90 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



with regard to the manners of his indigenous birds as 

 might be wished, as you justly obsei've : his Latin is 

 easy, elegant, and expressive, and very superior to 

 Kramer's.* 



I am pleased to see that my description of the moose 

 corresponds so well with yours. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXXin 



Selborn-e, Nov. 26, 1770. 

 Dear Sir, 



I was much pleased to see, among the collection of birds 

 from Gibraltar, some of those short-winged English 

 summer birds of passage, concerning whose departure 

 we have made so much inquiry. Now if these birds are 

 found in Andalusia to migrate to and from Barbary, it 

 may easily be supposed that those that come to us may 

 migrate back to the continent, and spend their winters 

 in some of the warmer parts of Europe. This is cer- 

 tain, that many soft-billed birds that come to Gibraltar 

 appear there only in spring and autumn, seeming to 

 advance in pairs towards the northward, for the sake of 

 breeding during the summer months ; and retiring in 

 parties and broods towards the south at the decline of 

 the year : so that the rock of Gibraltar is the great 

 rendezvous, and place of observation, from whence they 

 take their departure each way towards Europe or Africa. 

 It is therefore no mean discovery, I think, to find that 

 our small short-winged summer birds of passage are to be 

 seen spring and autumn on the very skirts of Europe ; it 

 is a presumptive proof of their emigrations. 



* See his Elenchus vegeiabilium el animalium per Aiistriam in- 

 feriorem, etc. 



