188 NATURAL HISTORY 



has been so from time immemorial ; and smile at your sim- 

 plicity if you ask them whether the situation of these two 

 different breeds might not be reversed. However, an 

 intelligent friend of mine near Chi Chester is determined to 

 try the experiment ; and has this autumn, at the hazard of 

 being laughed at, introduced a parcel of black-faced horn- 

 less rams among his horned western ewes. The black-faced 

 poll sheep have the shortest legs and the finest wool. 1 



As I had hardly ever before travelled these downs at so 

 late a season of the year, I was determined to keep as sharp 

 a look-out as possible so near the southern coast, with 

 respect to the summer short- winged birds of passage. We 

 make great inquiries concerning the withdrawing of the 

 swallow kind, without examining enough into the causes 

 why this tribe is never to be seen in winter ; for entre nous, 

 the disappearing of the latter is more marvellous than that 

 of the former, and much more unaccountable. The 

 Hirundines, if they please, are certainly capable of migra- 

 tion ; and yet, no doubt, are often found in a torpid state : 

 but redstarts, nightingales, whitethroats, blackcaps, &c. &c. 

 are very ill provided for long flights ; have never been once 

 found, as I ever heard of, in a torpid state ; and yet can 

 never be supposed, in such troops, from year to year to 

 dodge and elude the eyes of the curious and inquisitive, 

 which from day to day discern the other small birds that 

 are known to abide our winters. But, notwithstanding all 

 my care, I saw nothing like a summer bird of passage : 

 and, what is more strange, not one wheatear, though they 

 abound so in the autumn as to be a considerable perquisite 



1 In a note to this passage, Mr. Bennett says : " To assert that 

 the black-faced, hornless race of sheep, known as South Downs, can 

 exist westward of the river Adur, would be superfluous : they are not 

 only to be seen on the downs to the west of Bramber, but everywhere 

 throughout England ; so strongly have they been recommended to 

 general favour by their short legs and their fine wool. The Dorsets, as 

 they are called, the horned sheep with smooth white faces and white 

 legs, now occur much more rarely than the rival breed. Yet the 

 observation in the text is curious, as indicating the rapid advance that 

 has taken place, in little more than half a century, in the knowledge 

 and power of the agriculturist." ED. 



