88 NATURAL HISTORY 



their stay protracted somewhat beyond the usual time. If 

 they came to spend the whole winter with us, as some of 

 their congeners do, and then left us, as they do, in spring, 

 I should not be so much struck with the occurrence, since 

 it would be similar to that of the other winter birds of pas- 

 sage; but when I see them for a fortnight at Michael- 

 mas, and again for about a week in the middle of April, 

 I am seized with wonder, and long to be informed whence 

 these travellers come, and whither they go, since they seem 

 to use our hills merely as an inn or baiting place. 



Your account of the greater brambling, or snow-fleck, is 

 very amusing ; and strange it is, that such a short-winged 

 bird should delight in such perilous voyages over the 

 northern ocean ! Some country people in the winter 

 time have every now and then told me that they have seen 

 two or three white larks on our downs ; but, on considering 

 the matter, I begin to suspect that these are some stragglers 

 of the birds we are talking of, which sometimes perhaps 

 may rove so far to the southward. 



It pleases me to find that white hares are so frequent on 

 the Scottish mountains, and especially as you inform me 

 that it is a distinct species ; for the quadrupeds of Britain 

 are so few, that every new species is a great acquisition. 



The eagle-owl, could it be proved to belong to us, is so 

 majestic a bird, that it would grace our Fauna much. 1 



I never was informed before where wild geese are known 

 to breed. 



You admit, I find, that I have proved your fen salicaria 

 to be the lesser reed sparrow of Ray: 2 and I think you may 

 be secure that I am right ; for I took very particular pains to 

 clear up that matter, and had some fair specimens ; but, as 

 they were not well preserved, they are decayed already. 

 You will, no doubt, insert it in its proper place in your next 

 edition. Your additional plates will much improve your 

 work. 



1 In the " Handbook of British Birds" (1872), pp. 94, 95, will be 

 found enumerated at least a dozen instances of its occurrence iu 

 different parts of the British islands. ED. 



2 See p. 82, note 2, and p. 86, note 1. ED. 



