NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 65 



LETTER XXIV. 



Selborne, May 2Qth, 1769. 



The Scarabceus fullo I know very well, having seen it in 

 collections ; but have never been able to discover one wild 

 in its natural state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it 

 might be found on the sea coast. 



On the 13th of April I went to the sheep-down, where the 

 ring-ousels have been observed to make their appearance at 

 spring and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or south ; 

 and was much pleased to see these birds about the usual 

 spot. We shot a cock and a hen ; they were plump and in 

 high condition. The hen had but very small rudiments of 

 eggs within her, which proves they are late breeders; 

 whereas those species of the thrush kind that remain with us 

 the whole year have fledged young before that time. In 

 their crops was nothing very distinguishable, but somewhat 

 that seemed like blades of vegetables nearly digested. In 

 autumn they feed on haws and yew-berries, and in the 

 spring on ivy-berries. I dressed one of these birds, and 

 found it juicy and well flavoured. It is remarkable that 

 they make but a few days' stay in their spring visit, but 

 rest near a fortnight at Michaelmas. These birds, from 

 the observations of three springs and two autumns, are 

 most punctual in their return ; and exhibit a new migra- 

 tion unnoticed by the writers, who supposed they never 

 were to be seen in any southern counties. 



One of my neighbours lately brought me a new Salicaria, 

 which at first I suspected might have proved your willow- 

 lark, but, on a nicer examination, it answered much better 

 to the description of that species which you shot at Revesby, 

 in Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus — "It is a size 



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