WHEATEARS RINGOUSELS CROSSBILLS. 147 



so in the autumn as to be a considerable perquisite to the 

 shepherds that take them ; and though many are to be seen 

 to my knowledge all the winter through, in many parts of the 

 south of England. The most intelligent shepherds tell me, 

 that some few of these birds appear on the downs in March, 

 and then withdraw to breed, probably, in warrens and stone 

 quarries : now and then a nest is ploughed up in a fallow on 

 the downs, under a furrow ; but it is thought a rarity. At 

 the time of wheat-harvest, they begin to be taken in great 

 numbers ; are sent for sale in vast quantities to Brighthelm- 

 stone and Tunbridge ; and appear at the tables of all the 

 gentry that entertain with any degree of elegance. About 

 Michaelmas they retire, and are seen no more till March. 

 Though these birds are, when in season, in great plenty on 

 the South Downs round Lewes, yet at East Bourn, which is 

 the eastern extremity of those downs, they abound much more. 

 One thing is very remarkable, that, though in the height of the 

 season so many hundreds of dozens are taken, yet they never 

 are seen to flock ; and it is a rare thing to see more than three 

 or four at a time : so that there must be a perpetual flitting 

 and constant progressive succession. It does not appear that 

 any wheatears are taken to the westward of Houghton-bridge, 

 which stands on the river Arun. * 



I did not fail to look particularly after my new migration of 

 ringousels, and to take notice whether they continued on the 

 downs to this season of the year ; as I had formerly remarked 

 them in the month of October all the way from Chichester to 

 Lewes, wherever there were any shrubs and covert : but not 

 one bird of this sort came within my observation. I only saw 

 a few larks and whinchats, some rooks, and several kitss and 

 buzzards. 



About midsummer, a flight of crossbills comes to the pine- 

 groves about this house, but never makes any long stay, f 



The old tortoise, that I have mentioned in a former letter 



* Mr White is mistaken when he says that the wheatear is not to be 

 found farther west than Houghton-bridge, as they have frequently been 

 taken many miles west of the point mentioned. ED. 



f This bird but seldom visits this kingdom : it is a native of the extensive 

 pine forests of the Rhine. Mr Knapp knew one instance of it breeding 

 In England ; he says, " That rare bird the crossbill occasionally visits 

 the orchards in our neighbourhood, coming in little parties to feed on the 

 seeds of the apple, and, seldom as it appears, it is always noticed by the 

 mischief it does to fruit, cutting it asunder with its well-ccriStructed 

 mandibles, in order to obtain the kernels." Ei>. 



