OF SELBORNE 71 



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 distinguishable, 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 un- 

 noticed by the writers, who supposed they never were to 

 be seen in any of the southern counties. 



One of my neighbours lately brought me a new salicaria, 

 which at first I suspected might have proved your willow- 

 lark,* but, on a nicer examination, it answered much 

 better to the description of that species which you shot 

 at Revesby, in Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus : 

 " It is a size less than the grasshopper-lark ; the head, 

 back, and coverts of the wings of a dusky brown, without 

 those dark spots of the grasshopper-lark ; over each eye 

 is a milk-white stroke ; the chin and throat are white, 

 and the under parts of a yellowish white ; the rump is 

 tawny, and the feathers of the tail sharp-pointed ; the bill 

 is dusky and sharp, and the legs are dusky ; the hinder 

 claw long and crooked." The person that shot it says 

 that it sung so like a reed-sparrow that he took it for one ; 

 and that it sings all night : but this account merits further 

 inquiry. For my part, I suspect it is a second sort of 



* For this salicaria see letter August 30, 17G9. 



