82 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



and make their appearance again, as if in their return, 

 every April 1 They are more early this year than common, 

 for some were seen at the usual hill on the fourth of this 

 month. 



An observing Devonshire gentleman tells me that they 

 frequent some parts of Dartmoor, and breed there ; but 

 leave those haunts about the end^of September, or beginning 

 of October, and return again about the end of March. 



Another intelligent person assures me that they breed in 

 great abundance all over the Peak of Derby, and are called 

 there tor-ousels ; withdraw in October and November, and 

 return in spring. This information seems to throw some 

 light on my new migration. 



Scopoli's new work (which I have just procured) has its 

 merit in ascertaining many of the birds of the Tyrol and 

 Carniola. Monographers, come from whence they may, 

 have, I think, fair pretence to challenge some regard and 

 approbation from the lovers of natural history ; for, 

 as no man can alone investigate the works of nature, 

 these partial writers may, each in their department, be 

 more accurate in their discoveries, and freer from errors, 

 than more general writers ; and so by degrees may pave the 

 way to an universal correct natural history. Not that 

 Scopoli is so circumstantial and attentive to the life and 

 conversation of his birds as I could wish : he advances 

 some false facts ; as when he says of the Hirundo u^^hica 

 that ^^ pullos extra nidum non nutrit." This assertion 

 I know to be wrong from repeated observation this summer ; 

 for house-martins do feed their young flying, though it 

 must be acknowledged not so commonly as the house- 

 swallow; and the feat is done in so quick a manner as not 

 to be perceptible to indifferent observers. He also advances 

 soujc (I was going to say) improbable facts ; as when he 



