NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBOENE. 95 
Birds that sing as they fly are but few : 
Skylark, 
Titlark, 
Woodlark, 
Blackbird, 
White-tliroat, 
Swallow, 
Wren, 
RAII NOMINA. 
Alauda vulgaris. 
Alauda pratorum. 
Alauda arborea. 
Merula. 
Ficedula affinis. 
Hirundo domestica. 
Parser troglodytes. 
Rising, suspended, and falling. 
{ In its descent ; also sitting on 
I trees, and walking on the 
( ground. 
f Suspended ; in hot summer 
( nights all night long. 
Sometimes from bush to bush, 
f Uses when singing on the wing 
\ odd jerks and gesticulations. 
In soft sunny weather. 
Sometimes from bush to bush. 
Birds that breed most early in these parts : 
Raven, 
Song-thrush, 
Blackbird, 
Rook, 
Woodlark, _ 
Ring-dove, 
Corvus. 
Turdus. 
Merula. 
Comix frugilegd. 
Alauda arborea. 
Palumhus torquatus. 
/Hatches in February and 
( March. 
In March. 
In March. 
Builds the beginning of March. 
Hatches in April. 
Lays the beginning of April. 
All birds that continue in full song till after Midsummer appear to 
me to breed more than once. 
Most kinds of birds seem to me to be wild and shy somewhat in 
proportion to their bulk ; I mean in this island, where they are much 
pursued and annoyed ; but in Ascension Island, and many other 
desolate places, mariners have found fowls so unacquainted with an 
human figure, that they would stand still to be taken ; as is the case 
with boobies, &c. As an example of what is advanced, I remark that 
the golden-crested wren (the smallest British bird) will stand uncon- 
cerned till you come within three or four yards of it, while the bustard 
(Otis), the largest British land fowl, does not care to admit a person 
within so many furlongs."^ I am, &c. 
* Size has little to do with the familiarity of birds ; some are of a more wild and 
timorous disposition than others, but quiet and familiarity with objects is one, 
ignorance of objects which may annoy them, another cause. Birds know by 
memory the persons and objects that disturb them, and if frequently molested 
will soon become exceedingly shy. The wood-pigeon, naturally of a very shy 
disposition, if not disturbed about a garden or shrubbery, allows a very near 
approach. We have known the common thrush fed upon its nest. Game birds 
of all kinds are easily familiarised, and show no fear when they do not experience 
molestation. Sea fowl on islands seldom visited are more abundant during the 
breeding time, and are more careless of themselves and bold in protection of their 
young. There, unaccustomed to intrusion, they do not move out of the way of 
what they do not know to be danger. On the Bass rocks in the Frith of Forth 
Solan geese are, as it were, quite fkmiliar ; they will attack a dog or strike at the 
foot held out to them, and specimens we procured some years since were taken off 
their nests by the bill, See also note to Letter XXXVIII. , p. 79. 
