C ^ 3 



hath frequently killed woodcocks in March, which, upon being 

 opened, had the rudiments of eggs in them, and that it is 

 ufual at that time to flufh them in pairs; Willughby alfo obferves. 

 the fame 1- . 



This bird, therefore, certainly pairs before its fuppofed migra- 

 tion ; and can. it be conceived that this ftriit union (which birds 

 in a wild ftate fo faithfully adhere to s ) mould take place before 

 they traverfe oceans, and when they cannot as yet. have pitched 

 upon, a proper place for concealing their neft and neftlings ? 



Let us examine if this intercourfe before migration takes place 

 in other birds, which are fuppofed to crofs wide extents of fea t 

 and a quail affords fuch proof. 



I have been prefent when thefe birds have been caught in the 

 fprmg, which always turn out to be males, and are enticed to the 

 nets by the call of the hen ; quails therefore pair after they appeair 

 in England. 



But I fhall now confider the other two instances of birds which 

 are feen with us in the winter, and are not obferved in the fumi- 

 mer ; I mean the fieldfare and redwing. 



And, firft, let us examine > where thefe birds are .actually 

 known to breed : the northern naturalifts fay, in Sweden ; Klein r 

 in the neighbourhood of Dantzick, which is only in lar. 54. 0 30' r j 

 and Willughby, in Bohemia. 



As- 



* B. III. c. i. 



5 It is believed that no mule-bird was ever feen in a wild ft'ate, not- 

 withstanding M. de Buffon fufpects man}'- an intrigue in the recefTes of 

 the woods (Hift. Nat. des Oifeaux, torn. I.) Such irregular intercourfe is 

 only obferved in cages and aviaries, where birds are not only confined, 

 but pampered with food. 



1 See Klein, de Avibus Erraticis, p. 178. Klein, however, cites Zor- 

 nius, who lived i,n the fame part of Germany, and who afieits that the: 

 I titrdus 



