NATURAL HISTORY OP SELBORNE. 
49 
on ivj^-berries, which ripen only at that season, in March and 
April.^ 
I must not omit 
to tell you (as you 
have been so lately 
on the study of rep- 
tiles) that my people, 
every now and then 
of late, draw up with 
a bucket of water 
from my well, which 
is sixty-three feet 
deep, a large black 
warty lizard with a 
fin-tail and yellow 
belly. How they first 
came down at that bing ousel. 
depth, and how they 
were ever to have got out thence without help, is more than I am able 
to say. 
My thanks are due to you for your trouble and care in the examina- 
tion of a buck's head. As far as your discoveries reach at present, 
they seem much to corroborate my suspicions ; and I hope Mr. 
may find reason to give his decision in my favour ; and then, I think, 
we may advance this extraordinary provision of nature as a new instance 
of the wisdom of God in the creation. 
As yet I have not quite done with my history of the oedicnemus, or 
stone-curlew ; for I shall desire a gentleman in Sussex (near whose house 
these birds congregate in vast flocks in the autumn) to observe nicely 
when they leave him (if they do leave him), and when they return again 
in the spring : I was with this gentleman lately, and saw several 
single birds. 
LETTEE XXL 
TO THE SAME. 
Selborne, Nov. 2St7i, 1768. 
Dear Sir, — With regard to the oedicnemus, or stone-curlew, I intend to 
write very soon to my friend near Chichester, in whose neighbourhood 
these birds seem most to abound ; and shall urge him to take particular 
* White's observations upon the ring-ousel, at the time he wrote, were very- 
important, and made with great accuracy. As in other matters, it will be very 
interesting for Professor Bell to give his attention to their present habits in the 
vicinity of Selborne, to ascertain if their numbers continue as many, and their 
appearance as regular. In Scotland the ring-ousel is a regular summer visitant, 
extending from the English border to Sutherlandshire ; in the rocky districts ot 
the latter county it is tolerably frequent. In autumn and before their departure 
they visit the lower country, and remain a day or a week according to circum- 
stances, feeding at this time upon various berries, and occasionally visiting 
gardens. The broods are now joined and mixed together, and the young appeal 
in their imperfect mottled dress. 
