OF SELBORNE. 47 



that " before winter all their hen chaffinches migrate 

 through Holland into Italy." Now I want to know, from 

 some curious person in the north, whether there are any 

 large flocks of these finches with them in the winter, and of 

 which sex they mostly consist? For, from such intelli- 

 gence, one might be able to judge whether our female flocks 

 migrate from the other end of the island, or whether they 

 come over to us from the continent. 1 



We have, in the winter, vast flocks of the common 

 linnets ; more, I think, than can be bred in any one district. 

 These, I observe, when the spring advances, assemble on 

 some tree in the sunshine, and join all in a gentle sort of 

 chirping, as if they were about to break up their winter 

 quarters, and betake themselves to their proper summer 

 homes. 2 It is well known, at least, that the swallows and 

 the fieldfares do congregate with a gentle twittering before 

 they make their respective departure. 



You may depend on it that the bunting, Emberiza 

 miliaria, does not leave this county in the winter. In 

 January, 1767, I saw several dozen of them, in the midst of 

 a severe frost, among the bushes on the downs near An- 

 dover: in our woodland enclosed district it is a rare bird. 3 



Wagtails, both white and yellow, 4 are with us all the 



1 This separation of the sexes in winter has been noticed by other 

 observers, but it is not universally the rule, for in some parts of the 

 country many individuals of both sexes remain throughout the winter 

 and do not flock. ED. 



2 Linnets flock in September, and continue to congregate till March. 



ED. 



3 Since this remark was penned by Gilbert White, another species 

 of bunting has been observed in his parish, namely, the cirl bunting, 

 Emberiza cirlus. Not only have we seen this bird there in autumn, 

 but Mr. Bell (the fortunate owner of Gilbert White's old house), 

 informs us that it has nested there to his knowledge on several occa- 

 sions, and successfully reared its young. ED. 



4 By the yellow wagtail, White here means the winter yellow wag- 

 tail, or, as it is generally called, the grey wagtail (M. boarula, Linn.) 

 It is a local resident, breeding regularly in Scotland and the north of 

 England, but is generally regarded in the south of England as a winter 

 visitant. It has, however, been found nesting in many of the southern 

 counties, as Sussex, Dorset, Gloucester, Devon and Cornwall. ED. 



