I have discovered an anecdote with respect to the 

 fieldfare {Ticrdtis pilaris), which I think is particular 

 enough : this bird, though it sits on trees in the day- 

 time, and procures the greatest part of its food from 

 w^hitethorn hedges ; yea, moreover, builds on very 

 high trees, as may be seen by the " Fauna Suecica," 

 yet ahvays appears with us to roost on the ground. 

 They are seen to come in flocks just before it is dark, 

 and to settle and nestle among the heath on our for- 

 est. And besides, the larkers, in dragging their nets 

 by night, frequently catch them in the wheat stub- 

 bles ; while the bat-fowlers, who take many redwings 

 in the hedges, never entangle any of this species. 

 Why these birds, in the matter of roosting, should 

 differ from all their congeners, and from themselves 

 also with respect to their proceedings by day, is a 

 fact for which I am by no means able to account. 



I have somewhat to inform you of concerning the 

 moose-deer ; but in general foreign animals fall sel- 

 dom in my way ; my little intelligence is confined to 

 the narrow sphere of my own observations at hom.e. 



Selborne, Feb. 22^ 1770. 



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