134 NATURAL HISTORY 
In Jidy I faw feveral cuckoos Ikimming over a large pond ; and 
found, after fonie obfervation, that they were feeding on the 
Tihellida, or dragon-Jlies ; fome of which they caught as they fettled 
■on the weeds, and fome as they were on the wing. Notwithftand- 
ing what Lin/i^us hys, I cannot be induced to beheve that they are 
birds of prey. 
This diftrict affords fome birds that are hardly ever heard of at 
■Selborne. In the firft place confiderable flocks of crofs-heaks (loxi^ 
■ciirv'irojlra) have appeared this fummer in the pine-groves belong- 
ing to this houfe ; the water-oufd is faid to haunt the mouth of the 
Lezces river, near Nezvhaven ; and the Cornijh chough builds, I 
know, all along the chalky cliffs of the S!'J[ex lliore. 
I was greatly pleafed to fee little parties of r'mg-oufch (my newly 
tlifcovered migraters) fcattered, at intervals, all along the Sn^^ex 
downs from Chicheficr to Lezves, Tet them come from whence they 
will, it looks very fufpicious that they are cantoned along the coafc 
in order to pafs the channel when fevere weather advances. They 
vifit us again in April, as it fliould feem, in their return ; and are not 
to be found in the dead of winter. It is remarkable that they are very 
tame, and fcem to have no manner of apprehenfrons of danger from 
a perfon with a gun. There are buftards on the wide downs near 
Br'ighlhehvfwne. No doubt you are acquainted with the Sujjex downs : 
the profped:? and rides round haves sre moft lovely ! 
As I rode along near the cof'ft I kept a very fharp look out in 
the lanes and woods, hoping I might, at this time of the year, 
have difcovcrcd Tome oi the fum-m^r fliort-winged birds of paffage 
crov/ding towards the coaft in order for their e'eparture : but it 
was very extraordinary that I never faw a redffart, white-throat, 
black-cap, uncrefted wren, fly-catcher, c:c. And I remember to 
have made the fame remark in former years, as I ufually come to 
this 
