76 WILLOW-LAEK. 



LETTER XIX. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, Aug. 17, 1768. 

 Deae Sie, — I have now, past dispute, made out three dis- 

 tinct species of the "VTiLLow-wrens [motacillae trocMli), which 

 constantly and invariably use distinct notes.* But, at the 

 same time, I am obliged to confess that I know nothing of 

 your willow-lark.t In my letter of April the 18th, I had 

 told you peremptorily that I knew your willow-lark, but had 

 not seen it then ; but, when I came to procure it, it proved 

 in aU respects a very motacilla trochilus ; only that it is a 

 size larger than the two other, and the yeUow-green of the 

 whole upper part of the body is more vivid, and the belly of 

 a clearer white. I have, specimens of the three sorts now 

 lying before me ; and can discern that there are three grada- 

 tions of sizes, and that the least has black legs, and the 

 other two, flesh-coloured ones. The yellowest bird is con- 

 siderably the largest, and has its quill feathers and secondary 

 feathers tipped with white, which the others have not. This 

 last haunts only the tops of trees in high beechen woods, 

 and makes a sibUous grasshopper-like noise now and then, at 

 short intervals, shivering a little with its wings when it 

 siags ; and is, I make no doubt now, the regidus iion cris- 

 iafus of Eay ; which he says, " cantat voce striduld locust<B."X 

 Tet this great ornithologist never suspected that there were 

 three species. 



* These birds are accurately described and beautifully figured ia Mr. 

 Selby's and Mr. Yarreirs works on Britisb birds, to which the reader is 

 referred. — Ed. 



+ Pennant's Bnt. Zool., edit. 1776, octavo, p. 381. 

 J Without doubt, sylvia sibilatiix, or wood-wren. — \V. J. 



