144 
NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
scriptions, and a few synonyms : the reason is plain ; because all 
that may be done at home in a man's study, but the investigation 
of the life and conversation of animals, is a concern of much more 
trouble and difficulty, and is not to be attained but by the active 
and inquisitive, and by those who reside much in the country. 
Foreign systematics are, I observe, much too vague in their 
specific differences ; which are almost universally constituted by 
one or two particular marks, the rest of the description running 
in general terms. But our countryman, the excellent Mr. Ray, 
is the only describer that conveys some precise idea in every 
term or word, maintaining his superiority over his followers and 
imitators in spite of the advantage of fresh discoveries and 
modern information. 
At this distance of years it is not in my power to recollect at 
what periods woodcocks used to be sluggish or alert when I was 
a sportsman : but, upon my mentioning this circumstance to a 
friend, he thinks he has observed them to be remarkably listless 
against snowy foul weather : if this should be the case, then the 
inaptitude for flying arises only from an eagerness for food ; as 
sheep are observed to be very intent on grazing against stormy 
wet evenings. I am, &c &c. 
LETl^ER XL To the Hon. DAINES BARRINGTON. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, Feb. 8, 1772. 
When I ride about in the winter, and see such prodigious flocks 
of various kinds of birds, I cannot help admiring at these congre- 
gations, and wishing that it was in my power to account for those 
appearances almost peculiar to the season. The two great motives 
which regulate the proceedings of the brute creation are love and 
hunger ; the former incites animals to perpetuate their kind, the 
latter induces them to preserve individuals ; whether either of 
these should seem to be the ruling passion in the matter of con- 
gregating is to be considered. As to love, that is out of the 
question at a time of the year when that soft passion is not in- 
dulged; besides, during the amorous season, such a jealousy 
prevails between the male birds that they can hardly bear to be 
together in the same hedge or field. Most of the singing and 
elation of spirits of that time seem to me to be the effect of ri- 
valry and emulation : and it is to this spirit of jealousy that I 
