OF SELBORNE. 125 



Selborne parish alone can and has exhibited at times 

 more than half the birds that are ever seen in all Sweden ; 

 the former has produced more than one hundred and twenty 

 species, the latter only two hundred and twenty-one. Let 

 me add also that it has shown near half the species that 

 were ever known in Great Britain. 1 



On a retrospect, I observe that my long letter carries 

 with it a quaint and magisterial air, and is very sententious ; 

 but, when I recollect that you requested stricture and anec- 

 dote, I hope you will pardon the didactic manner for the 

 sake of the information it may happen to contain. 



1 Sweden 221, Great Britain 252 species. G. W. 



The number of so-called British birds at the present time is about 

 395. Of these, in round numbers, 130 are residents, 100 periodical 

 migrants, and 30 annual visitants, the remainder being rare and acci- 

 dental visitants. ED. 



