OF SELBORNE 166 



Michaelmas they retire and are seen no more till March. 

 Though these birds are, when in season, in great plenty on 

 the south downs round Lewes, yet at East-Bourn, which 

 is the eastern extremity of those downs, they abound much 

 more. One thing is very remarkable — that though in the 

 height of the season so many hundreds of dozens are taken, 

 yet they never are seen to flock ; and it is a rare thing to 

 see more than three or four at a time : so that there must 

 be a perpetual flitting and constant progressive succession. 

 It does not appear that any wheat-ears are taken to the 

 westward of Houghton-bridge, which stands on the river 

 Arun. 



I did not fail to look particularly after my new migration 

 of ring-ousels ; and Lo take notice whether they continued 

 on the downs to this season of the year ; as I had formerly 

 remarked them in the month of October all the way from 

 Chichester to Lewes wherever there were any shrubs and 

 covert : but not one bird of this sort came within my 

 observation. I only saw a few larks and whin chats, some 

 rooks, and several kites and buzzards. 



About Midsummer a flight of cross-bills comes lo the 

 pine-groves about this house, but never makes any long 

 stay. 



The old tortoise, that I have mentioned in a former 

 letter, still continues in this garden ; and retired under 

 ground about the twentieth of November, and came out 

 again for one day on the thirtieth : it lies now buried in 

 a wet swampy border under a wall facing to the south, and 

 is enveloped at present in mud and mire ! 



.Here is a large rookery round this house, the inhabit- 

 ants of which seem to get their livelihood very easily ; for 

 they spend the greatest part of the day on their nest-trees 

 when the weather is mild. These rooks retire every even- 

 ing all the winter from this rookery, where they only call 

 by the way, as they are going to roost in deep woods ; at 



