OF SELBORNE. 153 



it seeds, I could not help wondering : because the reed 

 sparrow which I mentioned to you (Passer arundinaceus 

 minor, Km 1 ) is a soft-billed bird, and most probably 

 migrates hence before winter ; whereas the bird you kept 

 (Passer torquatus, RAII*) abides all the year, and is a thick- 

 billed bird. I question whether the latter be much of a 

 songster; but in this matter I want to be better informed. 3 

 The former has a variety of hurrying notes, and sings all 

 night. Some part of the song of the former, I suspect, is 

 attributed to the latter. We have plenty of the soft-billed 

 sort; which Mr. Pennant had entirely left out of his "British 

 Zoology," till I reminded him of his omission. See " British 

 Zoology" last published, p. 16. 4 



I have somewhat to advance on the different manners in 

 which different birds fly and walk; but as this is a subject 

 that I have not enough considered, and is of such a na- 

 ture as not to be contained in a small space, I shall say no- 

 thing further about it at present. 5 



No doubt the reason why the sex of birds in their first 

 plumage is so difficult to be distinguished is, as you say, 

 " because they are not to pair and discharge their parental 

 functions till the ensuing spring." As colours seem to be 

 the chief external sexual distinction in many birds, these 

 colours do not take place till sexual attachments begin to 

 obtain. And the case is the same in quadrupeds ; among 

 whom, in their younger days, the sexes differ but little : 

 but, as they advance to maturity, horns and shaggy manes, 

 beards and brawny necks, &c. &c., strongly discriminate the 

 male from the female. We may instance still farther in our 

 own species, where a beard and stronger features are usually 

 characteristic of the male sex : but this sexual diversity does 

 not take place in earlier life ; for a beautiful youth shall be 



1 The sedge warbler, Salicaria phragmitis. ED. 



2 The reed bunting, Emberiza schceniclus. ED. 



3 See Letter XXIV. to Pennant, p. 82, note 2. ED. 



4 See Letters XXIV. XXV. and XXVI. to Pennant. ED. 

 6 See Letter XLII. to Daines Barrington. ED. 



