154 
THK NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT. 
and much more unaccountable. The liirundines, if they please, 
are certainly capable of migration ; and yet no doubt are often 
found in a torpid state : but redstarts, nightingales, white- 
throats, blackcaps, which are very ill provided for long flights, 
have never been once found, as I ever heard of, in a torpid 
state, and yet can never be supposed in such troops from year 
to year to dodge and elude the eyes of the curious and inquisi- 
tive, which from day to day discern the other small birds that 
are known to abide our winters. But, notwithstanding all my 
care, I saw nothing like a summer bird of passage : and, what 
is more strange, not one wheatear, though they abound so in 
the autumn as to be a considerable perquisite to the shepherds 
that take them ; and though many are to be seen to my know- 
ledge all the winter through in many parts of the south of 
England. The most intelligent shepherds tell me that some 
few of these birds appear on the downs in Marcli, and then 
withdraw to breed probably in warrens and stone quarries : 
now and then a nest is ploughed up in a fallow on the downs 
under a furrow, but it is thought a rarity. At the time of 
wheat-harvest they begin to be taken in great numbers ; are 
sent for sale in vast quantities to Brighton and Tunbridge ; and 
appear at the tables of all the gentry that entertain with any 
degree of elegance. About Michaelmas they retire, and are seen 
no more till March. Though these birds are, when in season, 
in great plenty on the south downs round Lewes, yet at East- 
bourne, which is the eastern extremity of those downs, they 
abound much more. One thing is very remarkable — that though 
in the height of the season so many hundreds of dozens are 
taken, yet they never are seen to flock ; and it is a rare thing to 
see more than three or four at a time : so that there must be a 
perpetual flitting and constant progressive succession. It does 
not appear that any wheatears are taken to the westward of 
Houghton bridge, which stands on the river Arun. 
I did not fail to look particularly after my new migration of 
ring-ousels ; and to take notice whether they continued on the 
downs to this season of the year ; as I had formerly remarked 
them in the month of October all the way from Chichester to 
Lewes wherever there Avere any shrubs and coverts : but not one 
