38 NvlTURAL HISTORY 
Wagtails, both white and yellow, are with us all the winter. 
Quails crowd to our fouthern coaft, and are often killed in 
numbers by people that go on purpofe. 
Mr. StilUngflcety in his Trafts, fays that if the wheatear j^.f;;^7H/Z'^'j 
" does not quit England, it certainly ftiifts places ; for about 
*' harveft they are not to be found, where there was before great 
" plenty of them." This well accounts for the vaft quantities 
that are caught about that time on the fouth downs near Lewes, 
where they are efteemed a delicacy. There have been fliepherds, 
I have been credibly informed, that have made many pounds in 
a feafon by catching them in traps. And though fuch multitudes 
are taken, I never faw (and I am well acquainted with thofe 
parts) above two or three at a time : for they are never gregarious. 
They may perhaps migrate in general ; and, for that purpofe, draw 
towards the coaft of SN[fex in autumn : but that they da not all 
withdraw I am fure ; becaufe I fee a few ftragglers in many 
counties, at all times of the year, efpecially about warrens and 
ftone quarries. 
I have no acquaintance, at prefent, among the gentlemen of the 
navy : but have written to a friend, who was a fea-chaplain in the 
late war, defiring him to look into his minutes, with refpedl to 
birds that fettled on their rigging during their voyage up or down 
the channel. What Hnjfelquift fays on that fubjed is remarkable . 
there were little fliort-winged birds frequently coming on board 
his Ihip all the way from our channel quite up to the Levant, 
efpecially before fqually weather. 
What you fuggeft, with regard to Spain, is highly probable. 
The winters of Andalujia are fo mild, that, in all likelihood, the 
foft-billed birds that leave us at that feafon may find infeds 
fufficient to fupport them there. 
Some 
