82 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



standing" the prejudices in their favour, they do much mischief in 

 gardens to the summer-fruits.* 



The titmouse, which early in February begins to make two quaint 

 notes, like the whetting of a saw, is the marsh titmouse : the great 

 titmouse sings with three cheerful joyous notes, and begins about the 

 same time.f 



Wrens sing all the winter through, frost excepted. 



House-martins came remarkably late this year both in Hampshire 

 and Devonshire : is this circumstance for or against either hiding or 

 migration ? 



Most birds drink sipping at intervals; but pigeons take a long 

 continued draught, like quadrupeds. 



Notwithstanding what I have said in a former letter, no gray crows 

 were ever known to breed oil Dartmoor ; it was my mistake. 



The appearance and flying of the Scarabceus solstitialis, or fern-chafer, 

 commence with the month of July, and cease about the end of it. 

 These scarabs are the constant food of Caprimulgi, or fern owls, through 

 that period. They abound on the chalky downs and in some sandy 

 districts, but not in the clays. 



In the garden of the Black Bear inn in the town of Reading is a 

 stream or canal running under the stables and out into the fields on the 

 other side of the road : in this water are many carps, which lie rolling 

 about in sight, being fed by travellers, who amuse themselves by tossing 

 them bread ; but as soon as the weather grows at all severe these fishes 

 are no longer seen, because they retire under the stables, where they 

 remain till the return of spring. Do they lie in a torpid state ] if they 

 do not, how are they supported ] 



The note of the white-throat, which is continually repeated, and often 

 attended with odd gesticulations on the wing, is harsh and displeasing. 

 These birds seem of a pugnacious disposition ; for they sing with an 

 erected crest and attitudes of rivalry and defiance ; are shy and wild in 

 breeding-time, avoiding neighbourhoods, and haunting lonely lanes and 

 commons ; nay even the very tops of the Sussex Downs, where there 

 are bushes and covert ; but in July and August they bring their broods 

 into gardens and orchards, and make great havoc among the summer- 

 fruits. 



The black cap has in common a full, sweet, deep, loud, and wild 

 pipe ; yet that strain is of short continuance, and his motions are 

 desultory ; but when that bird sits calmly and engages in song in 

 earnest, he pours forth very sweet, but inward melody, and expresses 

 great variety of soft and gentle modulations, superior perhaps to those 

 of any of our warblers, the nightingale excepted. 



Black-caps mostly haunt orchards and gardens ; while they warble 

 their throats are wonderfully distended. 



The song of the redstart is superior, though somewhat like that of 

 the white-throat; some birds have a few more notes than others. 



* They eat also the berries of the ivy, the honey-suckle, and the Euonymus 

 europceus, or spindle-tree. 



- f It is the notes of the greater and cole titmice, Parus major and ater, that 

 resemble the whetting of a saw. 



