MianATToir. 143 



several other small birds, but cannot bring tbem to any 

 criterion. 



As I bave often remarked tbat redwings are some of tie 

 first birds tbat suffer witb us in severe weatber, it is no 

 wonder at all that tbey retreat from Scandinavian winters ; 

 and much more the or do of grallce, who all, to a bird, forsake 

 the northern parts of Europe at the approach of winter. 

 " GrallcB tcmquam conjuratcB unanimiter mfugam se conji- 

 ciunt ; ne earum unicam, quidem inter nos Tiabitantem imienire 

 possimus ; ut enim cBstate in aitstralihus degere nequeunt 6b 

 defectv/m Ivmbricorv/m, terramque siccam ; Ha neo in frigidis 

 oh eandem causam," " The graUse, as if by agreement, take 

 flight, nor can we find one residing here ; for as, during 

 summer, the deficiency of earth-worms and the hardness of 

 the ground prevents them from abiding in hot countries ; so 

 neither can they dwell iu cold climes, for the same reason," 

 says Ekmarck, the Swede, iu his ingenious little treatise 

 called Mxgrationes Avium, which, by all means, you ought to 

 read, while your thoughts run on the subject of migration. — 

 See Amoenitates Academiocs, vol. iv. p. 665. 



Birds may be so circumstanced as to be obliged to migrate 

 in one country, and not in another ; but the grallce (which 

 procure their food from marshes and boggy ground,) must, 

 in winter, forsake the more northerly parts of Europe, or 

 perish for want of food. 



I am glad you are making inquiries from Linnaeus con- 

 cerning the woodcock ; it is expected of him that he should 

 be able to account for the motions and manner of life of the 

 animals of his own Faima. 



Eaunists, as you observe, are too apt to acquiesce in bare 

 descriptions, and a few synonymes : the reason is plain, 

 because all that may be done at home in a man's study ; 

 but the investigation of the life and conversation of animals 

 is a concern of much more trouble and difficulty, and is not 

 to be attained but by the active and inquisitive, and by those 

 that reside much in the country. 



Eoreign systematists are, I observe, much too vague in 

 their specific differences ; which are almost universally con- 

 stituted by one or two particular marks, the rest of the 

 description running in general terms. But our coimtryman, 

 the excellent Mr. Eay, is the only describer that conveys 



