OF. SELBOENE. 253 



be explained as the most stupendous phenomenon in 

 nature. 



" Say, what impels, amidst surrounding snow 

 Congeal'd, the crocus' flamy bud to glow ? 

 Say, what retards, amidst the summer's blaze, 

 TV autumnal bulb, till pale, declining days ? 

 The GOD of SEASONS ; whose pervading power 

 Controls the sun, or sheds the fleecy shower : 

 He bids each flower his quickening word obey ; 

 Or to each lingering bloom enjoins delay." 



LETTER XLIL 



TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES HARRINGTON. 



" Omnibus animalibus reliquis certus et uniusmodi et in suo cuique 

 genere incessus est : aves solas vario meatu feruntur et in terra et in 

 aere." PLIN. Nat. Hist. lib. x. cap. 38. 



SELBORNE, Aug. 7, 1778. 



GOOD ornithologist should be able to dis- 

 tinguish birds by their air as well as by their 

 colours and shape ; on the ground as well as 

 on the wing, and in the bush as well as in 

 the hand. For, though it must not be said 

 that every species of birds has a manner peculiar to itself, 

 yet there is somewhat in most genera at least, that at first 

 sight discriminates them, and enables a judicious observer 

 to pronounce upon them with some certainty. Put a bird 

 in motion 



" et vera incessu patuit .** 



Thus kites and buzzards sail round in circles with wings 

 expanded and motionless ; and it is from their gliding 

 manner that the former are still called in the north of 

 England gleads, from the Saxon verb glidan, to glide. 

 The kestril, or wind-hover, has a peculiar mode of hanging 

 In the air in one place, his wings all the while being briskly 

 agitated. Hen harriers fly low over heaths or fields of 

 corn, and beat the ground regularly like a pointer or setting- 



