NATURAL HISTORY OF* SELBORNE. 95 



Birds that sing as they fly are but few : 



KAII NOMINA. 



Skylark, Alauda vulgaris. Rising, suspended, and falling. 



fin its descent; also sitting on 

 Titlark, Alauda pratorum. < trees, and walking on the 



( ground. 

 Woodlark, Alauda arborea. f Suspended; in hot summer 



( nights all night long. 



Blackbird, Merula. Sometimes from bush to bush. 



White-throat, Ficedula affinis. -f Uses when singing on the wing 



( odd jerks and gesticulations. 



Swallow, Hirundo domestica. In soft sunny weather. 



Wren, Passer troglodytes. Sometimes from bush to bush. 



Birds that breed most early in these parts : 



Eaven, Corvus. { H March * February and 



Song-thrush, Turdus. In March. 



Blackbird, , Merula. In March. 



Rook, Cornix fruffilega. Builds the beginning of March. 



Woodlark, Alauda arborea. Hatches in April. 



Ring-dove, Palumbus torquatus. Lays the beginning of April. 



All birds that continue in full song till after Midsummer appear to 

 me to breed more than once. 



Most kinds of birds seem to me to be wild and shy somewhat in 

 proportion to their bulk ; I mean in this island, where they are much 

 pursued and annoyed ; but in Ascension Island, and many other 

 desolate places, mariners have found fowls so unacquainted with an 

 human figure, that they would stand still to be taken ; as is the case 

 with boobies, &c. As an example of what is advanced, I remark that 

 the golden-crested wren (the smallest British bird) will stand uncon- 

 cerned till you come within three or four yards of it, while the bustard 

 (Otis), the largest British land fowl, does not care to admit a person 

 within so many furlongs.* I am, &c. 



* Size has little to do with the familiarity of birds ; some are of a more wild and 

 timorous disposition than others, but quiet and familiarity with objects is one, 

 ignorance of objects which may annoy them, another cause. Birds know by 

 memory the persons and objects that disturb them, and if frequently molested 

 will soon become exceedingly shy. The wood-pigeon, naturally of a very shy 

 disposition, if not disturbed about a garden or shrubbery, allows a very near 

 approach. We have known the common thrush fed upon its nest. Game birds 

 of all kinds are easily familiarised, and show no fear when they do not experience 

 molestation. Sea fowl on islands seldom visited are more abundant during the 

 breeding time, and are more careless of themselves and bold in protection of their 

 young. There, unaccustomed to intrusion, they do not move out of the way of 

 what they do not know to be danger. On the Bass rocks in the Frith of Forth 

 Solan geese are, as it were, quite familiar ; they will attack a dog or strike at the 

 foot held out to them, and specimens we procured some years since were taken off 

 their nests by the bill. See also note to Letter XXXVIII., p. 79. 



