OF SELBORNE 63 



in Sussex (near whose house these birds congregate in 

 vast flocks in the autumn) to observe nicely when they 

 leave him (if they do leave him), and when they return 

 again in the spring ; I was with this gentleman lately, and 

 saw several single birds. 



LETTER XXI 



Selborne, Nov. 28, 1768. 

 Dear Sir, 



With regard to the oedicnemus, or stone curlew, I intend 

 to write very soon to my friend near Chichester, in whose 

 neighbourhood these birds seem most to abound ; and 

 shall urge him to take particular notice when they begin 

 to congregate, and afterwards to watch them most 

 narrowly whether they do not withdraw themselves during 

 the dead of the winter. When I have obtained in- 

 formation with respect to this circumstance, I shall have 

 finished my history of the stone curlew ; which I hope 

 will prove to your satisfaction, as it will be, I trust, very 

 near the truth. This gentleman, as he occupies a large 

 farm of his own, and is abroad early and late, will be a 

 very proper spy upon the motions of these birds : and 

 besides, as I have prevailed on him to buy the Naturalist's 

 Journal (with which he is much delighted), I shall expect 

 that he will be very exact in his dates. It is very extra- 

 ordinary, as you observe, that a bird so common with us 

 should never straggle to you. 



And here will be the properest place to mention, while 

 I think of it, an anecdote which the above-mentioned 

 gentleman told me when I was last at his house ; which 

 was that, in a warren joining to his outlet, many daws 

 (corvi monedulse) build every year in the rabbit-burrows 



