OF SELBORNE, 
237 
LETTER XLIL 
TO THE SAME. 
" Omnibus animalibus rellquls certus et uniufmodi, et in fuo culque genere 
" incellus : eft aves fola; vario meatu feruntur, et in terra, et in aere." 
Plin. Hift. Nat. lib, X. cap. 38. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, Aug. 7, 1778. 
A GOOD ornithologift fhould be able to diftinguifli birds by their 
air as well as by their colours and fliape ; on the ground as well 
as on the wing, and in the bufh as well as in the hand. For, 
though it muft not be faid that every /pedes of birds has a manner 
peculiar to itfelf, yet there is fomewhat in moft genera at leaft, that 
at firfl fight difcrimi nates them, and enables a judicious obferver 
to pronounce upon them with fome certainty. Put a bird in 
motion 
" — — Et vera inceflu patuit — — — ' — " 
Thus kites and buzzards fail round in circles with wings expand- 
ed and motionlefs; and it is from their gliding manner that the 
former are ftiU called in the north of Enpiand gleads, from the Saxo,i 
verb glidan, to glide. The kejlrel, or zvind-hover, has a peculiar mode 
of hanging in the air in one place, his wings all the while being 
briikly agitated. Hen-harriers fly lovv over heaths or fields of corn, 
and beat the ground regularly like a pointer or fetting-dog. Owls 
move in a buoyant manner, as if lighter than the air ; they feeni 
to want ballaft. There is a peculiarity belonging to ravens that 
muft draw the attention even of the moll incurious — th;y f^.end all 
their 
