OF SELBORNE. 
LETTER IIL 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Seleorne, Jan. 15, i-j-jo. 
It was no fmall matter of fatisfaftion to me to find that you were 
not difpleafed with my little methodm of birds. If there was any 
merit in the Iketch, it muft be owing to it's punduality. For 
many months I carried a lift in my pocket of the birds that were to 
be remarked, and, as I rode or walked about my bufinefs, I noted 
each day the continuance or omifllon of each bird's fong ; fo that 
I am as fure of the certainty of my fads as a man can be of any 
tranfaftion whatfoever. 
1 fhall now proceed to anfwer the feveral queries which you put 
in your two obliging letters, in the bed manner that I am able. 
Perhaps Eqfiwick, and it's environs, where you heard fo very few 
birds, is not a woodland country, and therefore not flocked with 
fuch fongfters. If you will caft your eye on my laft letter, you 
will find that many fpecies continued to Warble after the beginning 
of July. 
The titlark and yellowhammer breed late, the latter very late ; 
and therefore it is no wonder that they protradt their fong : for I 
lay it down as a maxim in ornithology, that as long as there is any 
incubation going on there is mufic. As to the redbreail: and wren, 
it is well known to the mofl incurious obferver that they whifllc 
;he year round, hard froll: excepted ; cfpecially the latter. 
R 2 It 
