96 NATURAL IIISTOKY 



duces the greatest variety which is the most 

 examined. Several birds, which are said 

 to belong to the north only, are, it seems, 

 often in the south. I have discovered this 

 Summer three species of birds with us, 

 which writers mention as only to be seen 

 in the northern counties. The first that was 

 brought me (on the 14 th of May ), was the 

 sandpiper, tringa hypoleucus : it was a cock 

 bird, and haunted the banks of some ponds 

 near the village ; and, as it had a com- 

 panion, doubtless intended to have bred 

 near that water. Besides, the owner has 

 told me since, that, on recollection, he has 

 seen some of the same birds round his 

 ponds in former Summers. 



The next bird that I procured (on the 

 21st of May) was a male red-backed but- 

 cher bird, lanius collurio. My neighbour, 

 who shot it, says that it might easily have 

 escaped his notice, had not the outcries and 

 chattering of the white-throats and other 

 small birds drawn his attention to the bush 

 where it was : its craw was filled with the 

 legs and wings of beetles. 



