188 
NATURAL 
HISTORY 
has been so from time immemorial ; and smile at your sim- 
plicity if you ask them whether the situation of these two 
different breeds might not be reversed. However, an 
intelligent friend of mine near Chichester is determined to 
try the experiment ; and has this autumn, at the hazard of 
being laughed at, introduced a parcel of black-faced horn- 
less rams among his horned western ewes. The black- faced 
poll sheep have the shortest legs and the finest wool/ 
As I had hardly ever before travelled these downs at so 
late a season of the year, I was determined to keep as sharp 
a look-out as possible so near the southern coast, with 
respect to the summer short- winged birds of passage. We 
make great inquiries concerning the withdrawing of the 
swallow kind, without examining enough into the causes 
why this tribe is never to be seen in winter ; for entre nous, 
the disappearing of the latter is more marvellous than that 
of the former, and much more unaccountable. The 
Hirundines, if they please, are certainly capable of migra- 
tion 'j and yet, no doubt, are often found in a torpid state : 
but redstarts, nightingales, whitethroats, blackcaps, &c. &c. 
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 inquisitive, 
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 
^ In a note to this passage, Mr. Bennett says : — " To assert that 
the black-faced, hornless race of sheep, known as South DoAvns, can 
exist westward of the river Adur, would be superfluous : they are not 
only to be seen on the downs to the west of Bramber, but everywhere 
throughout England ; so strongly have they been recommended to 
general favour by their short legs and their fine wool. The Dorsets, as 
they are called, the horned sheep with smooth white faces and white 
legs, now occur much more rarely than the rival breed. Yet the 
observation in the text is curious, as indicating the rapid advance that 
has taken place, in little more than half a century, in the knowledge 
and power of the agriuuicurist.*' — Zd. 
