birds as might be wished, as you justly observe: his 

 Latin is easy, elegant, and expressive, and very supe- 

 rior to Kramer's '* Elenchus Vegetabilium et Anima- 

 lium per Austriam Inferiorem." 



I am pleased to see that my description of the 

 moose corresponds so well with yours. 

 Selborne, Oct. 29, 1870. 



LETTER XL. 

 To Thomas Pennant, Esq. 



I WAS much pleased to see, among the collection 

 of birds from Gibraltar, some of those short-winged 

 English summer birds of passage concerning whose 

 departure we have made so much inquiry. Now, if 

 these birds are found in Andalusia to migrate to and 

 from Barbary, it may easily be supposed that those 

 that come to us may migrate back to the Continent, 

 and spend their winters in some of the warmer parts 

 of Europe. This is certain, that many soft-billed 

 birds that come to Gibraltar appear there only in 

 spring and autumn, seeming to advance in pairs to- 

 wards the northward, for the sake of breeding during 

 the summer months, and retiring in parties and broods 

 towards the south, at the decline of the year: so that 

 the rock of Gibraltar is the great rendezvous and 



place of observation from whence they take their 



149 



