Some swifts staid late, till the 22nd of August — a 

 rare instance ! for they usually withdraw within the 

 first week."^ 



On the 24th of September three or four ring- 

 ousels appeared in my fields for the first time this 

 season ! how punctual are these visitors in their 

 autumnal and spring migrations ! 

 Selborne, 1771. 



LETTER XLVIII. 

 To THE Honourable Daines Barrington. 



When I ride about in the winter, and see such 

 prodigious flocks of various kinds of birds, I cannot 

 help admiring these congregations, and wishing that 

 it was in my power to account for those appearances 

 almost peculiar to the season. The two great mo- 

 tives which regulate the proceedings of the brute 

 creation are love and hunger ; the former incites 

 animals to perpetuate their kind, the latter induces 

 them to preserve individuals ; whether either of 

 these should seem to be the ruling passion in the 

 matter of congregating is to be considered. As to 

 love, that is out of the question at a time of the year 

 when that soft passion is not indulged ; besides, dur- 

 ing the amorous season, such a jealousy prevails be- 



* See Letter XCVI. to Mr. Barrington. 

 172 



