114 NATURAL HISTORY 



may perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an 

 hour when next I have the honour of writ- 

 ing to you. 



LETTER XXIV 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR; Selborne, May 29, 17G9. 



The scar ah (eus Julio 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 thirteenth of April, I went to the 

 sheep-down, where the ring-ouselshdiVeheen 

 observed to make their appearance at spring 

 and fall, in their way perhaps to the north 

 or south; and was much pleased to see 

 three birds about the usual spot. AVe shot 

 a cock and a hen ; they were pluni}) and 

 in high condition. The hen had but very 



