174 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT 
LETTER LXT. 
TO THOMAS FEiViVAXT, ESQ. 
It is matter of curious inquiry to trace out how those species 
of soft-billed birds, that continue with us the winter through, 
subsist during the dead months. Tlie imbecility of birds seems 
not to be the only reason why they shun tlie rigour of our 
winters ; for the robust wryneck ^ (so much resembling the 
hardy race of woodpeckers) migrates, v/hile the feeble little 
golden-crowned wren, that shadow of a bird, braves our severest 
frosts without availing himself of houses or villages, to which 
most of our winter-birds crowd in distressful seasons, while this 
keeps aloof in fields and woods ; but perhaps this may be the 
reason why they may often perish, and why they are almost as 
rare as any bird we know. 
I have no reason to doubt but that the soft-billed birds, 
which winter with us, subsist chiefiy on insects in their aurelia 
state. All the species of wagtails in severe weather haunt 
shallow streams near their spring heads, where they never 
freeze ; and, by wading, pick out the aurelias of the genus of 
Phrygancce, &c.^ 
Hedge-sparrows frequent sinks and gutters in hard weather, 
where they pick up crumbs and other sweepings : and in mild 
weather they procure worms, which are stirring every month in 
the year, as any one may see that will only be at the trouble of 
taking a candle to a grass-plot on any mild winter's night. 
Itedbreasts and wrens in the winter haunt out-houses, stables, 
1 " Wrynecks appear on the grass-plots and walks ; they walk a little as 
well as hop, and thrust their bills into the turf, in quest, I conclude, of ants, 
which are their food. While they hold their bills in the grass, they dniw 
out their prey with their tongues, which are so long as to be coiled round 
their heads," says White in his " Observations.'' 
'■^ Derhani's " Physico Theology." 
