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100 NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER XXL 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR; Selborne, Nov. 28, 1768. 



AViTH regard to the oedicnemus, or stone" 

 curlew, I intend to write very soon to my 

 friend near Chichester , in whose neighbour- 

 hood these birds seem most to abound ; and 

 shall urge him to take particular notice 

 when they begin to congregate, and after- 

 ward to watch them most narrowly whe- 

 ther they do not withdraw themselves dur- 

 ing the dead of the Winter. When I have 

 obtained information with respect to this 

 circumstance, I shall have finished my his- 

 tory of the stone-curlew ; which 1 hope will 

 prove to your satisfaction, as it will be, I 

 trust, very near the truth. This gentleman, 

 as he occupies a large farm of his own, and 

 is abroad early and late, will be a very 

 proper spy upon the motions of these birds : 

 and besides, as I have prevailed on him to 



