58 NATURAL HISTORY 
to obferve nicely when they leave him, (if they do leave him) 
and when they return again in the fpring : I was with this gentle- - 
man lately, and faw feveral fmgle birds. 
LETTER XXL 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, Nov. 28, 1768. 
With regard to the oed'icnemifs^ or ftone-curlew, I intend to 
■write very foon to my friend near Chkhejler, in whofe neighbour- 
hood thefe birds feem moft to abound; and fliall urge him to take 
particular notice when they begin to congregate, and afterwards 
to watch them mof!: narrowly whether they do not withdraw them- 
felves during the dead of the winter. When I have obtained infor- 
mation with refped to this circumflance, I fhall have finiflied my 
hiftory of the jlone-curkw ; which I hope will prove to your fatif- 
faftion, as it will be, I truft, very near the truth. This gentle- 
man, as he occupies a large farm of his own, and is abroad early 
and late, will be a very proper fpy upon the motions of thefe birds : 
and befides, as I have prevailed on him to buy the Naturalift's 
Journal (with which he is much delighted), I lliall exped: that 
he will be very exaft in his dates. It is very extraordinary, as 
you obferve, that a bird fo common with us fiiould never 
ftraggle to you. 
And here will be the properefc place to mention, while I think 
of it, an anecdote which the above-mentioned gentleman told me 
when 
