OF SELBORNE. 



245 



ing his superiority over his followers and 

 imitators in spite of the advantages of fresh 

 discoveries and modern information. 



At this distance of years it is not in my 

 power to recollect at what periods wood- 

 cocks used to be sluggish or alert when I 

 was a sportsman : but, upon my mentioning 

 this circumstance to a friend, he thinks he 

 has observed them to be remarkably listless 

 against snowy foul weather : if this should 

 be the case, then the inaptitude for flying 

 arises only from an eagerness for food ; as 

 sheep are observed to be very intent on 

 grazing against stormy wet evenings. 



I am, &c. &c. 



LETTER XL 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR; Selborne, Feb. 8, 1772. 



W HEN I ride about in the Winter, and see 

 such prodigious flocks of various kinds of 

 birds, I cannot help admiring at these con- 



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