OF SELBORNE. 115 



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 no- 

 thing 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 migration unnoticed by 

 the writers, who supposed they never were 

 to be seen in any of the southern counties. 

 One of my neighbours lately brought me 

 a new salicaria, which, at first, I suspected 

 might have proved your v/illow-lark,* but 

 on a nicer examination, it answered much 

 better to the description of that species 



* For this salicaria see letter August 30, I765. 



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