OF SELBORNE. 281 



harvest they begin to be taken in great 

 numbers ; are sent for sale in vast quantities 

 to Brighthelmstone dindTunbridge ; and ap- 

 pear at the tables of all the gentry that en- 

 tertain with any degree of elegance. About 

 Michaelmas they retire, and are seen no 

 more till March. Though these birds are> 

 when in season, in great plenty on the 

 South downs round Lewes, yet at East- 

 Bourn, which is the eastern extremity of 

 those downs, they abound much more. 

 One thing is very remarkable — that though 

 in the height of the season so many hun- 

 dreds of dozens are taken, yet they never 

 are seen to flock ; and it is a rare thing to 

 see more than three or four at a time : so 

 that there must be a perpetual flitting and 

 constant progressive succession. It does 

 not appear that any wheat-ears are taken 

 to the westw£irdoi' Houghton- bridge, which 

 stands on the river Arun. 



I did not fail to look particularly after 

 my new migration of ring-ousels ; and to 

 take notice whether they continued on the 

 downs to this season of the year ; as 1 had 



