54 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



tion, or hidings imprinted on their minds by their great Creator ; 

 and with some degree of mortification, when I reflected that, 

 after all our pains and inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to 

 what regions they do migrate ; and are still farther embarrassed 

 to find that some do not actually migrate at all. 



These reflections made so strong an impression on my imagina- 

 tion, that they became productive of a composition that may 

 perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour when next I have 

 the honour of writing to you. 



LETTER XXIV. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, May 29, 1769. 



Dear Sir, 



The scarabmus Julio ^ I know very well, having seen it in collec- 

 tions ; but have never been able to discover one wild in its 

 natural state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it might be found 

 on the sea-coast. 



On the thirteenth of April I went to the sheep-down, where 

 the ring-ousels have been observed to make their appearance at 

 spring and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or south ; and 

 was much pleased to see three birds about the usual spot. We 

 shot a cock and a hen ; they were plump and in high condition. 

 The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs within her, which 

 proves they are late breeders ; whereas those species of the 

 thrush kind that remain with us the whole year have fledged 

 young before that time. In their crops was nothing very dis- 

 tinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades of vegetables 

 nearly digested. In autumn they feed on haws and yew-berries, 

 and in the spring on ivy-berries. I dressed one of these birds, 

 and found it juicy and well-flavoured. It is remarkable that 

 they make but a few days' stay in their spring visit, but rest near 

 a fortnight at Michaelmas. These birds, from the observations of 

 three springs and two autumns, are most punctual in their return ; 

 and exhibit a new migration unnoticed by the writers, who sup- 

 posed they never were to be seen in any of the southern counties. 



1 \Melolontha fullo , F. This large cockchafer has often been taken on the 

 Kentish coast, but is believed to be always imported from France.] 



