OF SELBORNE. 103 
Moft birds drink lipping at intervals ; but pigeons take a long 
continued draught, like quadrupeds. 
Notvvithftanding what I have faid in a former letter, no grey 
crows were ever known to breed on Dartmoor ; it was my miftake. 
The appearance and flying of the fcarabans foljlitialis, or fern- 
chafer, commence with the month of July, and ceafe about the 
end of it. Thefe fcarabs are the conftant food of caprimulgi, or fern 
owls, through that period. They abound on the chalky downs and 
in fome fandy diftridts, but not in the clays. 
In the garden of the Black-bear inn in the town of Reading is 
a ftream or canal running under the ftables and out into the 
fields on the other fide of the road : in this water are many carps, 
which lie rolling about in fight, being fed by travellers, who- 
amufe themfelves by tofling them bread : but as foon as the 
weather grows at all fevere thefe fifhes are no longer feen, becaufe 
they retire under the ftables, where they remain till the return of 
fpring. Do they lie in a torpid ftate ? if they do not, how are 
they fupported ? 
The note of the white-throat, which is continually repeated, and 
often attended with odd gefticulations on the wing, is harfli and 
difpleafing. Thefe birds fecm of a pugnacious difpofition ; for 
they fing with an ercded creft and attitudes of rivalry and de- 
fiance ; are fliy and wild in breeding-time, avoiding neighbour- 
hoods, and haunting lonely lanes and commons ; nay even the 
very tops of the Sujfex-dozvns, where there are bufhes and covert ; 
but in July and Auguji they bring their broods into gardens and 
orchards, and make great havock among the fummer-fruits. 
The black-cap has in common a full, fweet, deep, loud, and 
wild pipe ; yet that flrain is of fliort continuance, and his motions 
are dcfultory; but when that bird fits calmly and engages in fong 
in 
