164 



NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



familiar, since it would be as difficult to be explained as the most 

 stupendous phenomenon in nature. 



" Say, what impels, amidst surrounding snow 

 Congeal'd; the crocus" flamy bud to glow? 

 Say, what retards, amidst the summer's blaze, 

 Th' autumnal bulb, till pale, declining days ? 

 The GOD of SEASONS ; whose pervading power 

 Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower : 

 He bids each flower his quickening word obey, 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay." 



LETTER XLII. 



TO THE SAME. 



" Omnibus animalibus reliquis certus et uniusmodi, et in suo cuique gcuere 

 incessus est : aves solse vario meatu feruntur, et in terra, et in aere." 



SELBORNE, Aug. *th, 1778. 



DEAR SIR, A good ornithologist should be able to distinguish birds 

 by their air as well as by their colours and shape ; on the ground as 

 well as on the wing; and in the bush as well as in the hand. For, 

 though it must not be said that every species of birds has a manner 

 peculiar to itself, yet there is somewhat in most genera at least, that at 

 first sight discriminates them, and enables a judicious observer to 

 pronounce upon them with some certainty. Put a bird in motion 



Et vei incessu patuit 



Thus kites and buzzards sail round in circles with wings expanded 

 and motionless; and it is frcm their gliding manner that the former 



are still called in 

 the north of England 

 gleads,fromthe Saxon 

 verb glidan, to glide. 

 The kestrel, or wind- 

 hover, has a peculiar 

 mode of hanging in 

 the air in one place, 

 his wings all the while 

 being briskly agi- 

 tated. Hen-harriers 

 fly low over heaths or 

 fields of corn, and beat 

 the ground regularly 

 like a pointer or set- 

 ting-dog. Owls move 

 in a buoyant manner, 

 as if lighter than the 

 RAVEN. air; they seem to 



want ballast. There 

 is a peculiarity belonging to ravens that must draw the attention 



