66 
NATURAL HISTORY 
pains and inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to what regions 
they do migrate ; and are ftill farther embaralTed to find that feme 
do not aftually migrate at all. 
Thefe refledtions made fo ftrong an impreffion on my imagina- 
tion, that they became produftive of a compofition that may per- 
haps amufe you for a quarter of an hour when next I have the 
honour of writing to you. 
LETTER XXIV. 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, May 29, 1769. 
The fcarahaus fullo I know very well, having feen it in collec- 
tions; but have never been able to difcover one wild in it's natural 
ftate. Mr. Banks told me he thought it might be found on the 
feacoaft. 
On the thirteenth of Jpril I went to the fheep-down, where the 
rlng-oufels have been obferved to make their appearance at fpring 
and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or fouth ; and was 
much pleafed to fee three birds about the ufual fpot. We fhot a 
cock and a hen ; they were plump and in high condition. The 
hen had but very fmall rudiments of eggs within her, which proves 
they are late breeders ; whereas thofe fpecies of the thrulh kind that 
remain with us the whole year have fledged young before that 
time. In their crops was nothing very diftinguifliable, but fome- 
nvhat that feemed like blades of vegetables nearly digefled. In 
autumn 
