[ 300 ] 
If a fingle bird of any other kind happens to be 
feen in the winter, without motion or apparent warmth, 
it is immediately conceived that it died by fome com- 
mon accident. 
I fhall, however, without any'referve, fay, that I 
rather conceive the notion which prevails with re- 
gard to the migration of many birds, may moft 
commonly arife from the want of obfervation, 
and ready knowledge of them, when they are 
feen on the wing, even by profeflcd ornitholo- 
gies- _ 
It is an old faying, that (t a bird in the hand is 
,c worth two in the bufh j” and this holds equally 
with regard to their being diftinguifhed, w r hen thofe 
even who ftudy natural hiftory, have but a tranfient 
fight of the animal *. 
If, therefore, a bird, which is fuppofed to migrate 
in the winter, paffes almoft under the nofe of a Lin- 
nasan, he pays but little attention to it, becaufe he 
cannot examine the beak, by which he is to clafs the 
bird. Thus I conceive, that the fuppofing a night- 
ingale to be a bird of pafiage ariies from not readily 
difiinguifhing it, when feen in a hedge, or on the 
wing-f-. 
This bird is known to the ear of every one, by its 
moft ftriking and capital notes, but to the eye of very 
* An ingenious friend of mine makes always a very proper 
diftindlion between what he calls in-door and out-door natu- 
ralifts. 
Thomas Willifel, who aflifled Ray and Willughby much 
with regard to the natural hiftory of the animals of this iiland, 
never ftirred anywhere without his gun and filhing-tackle. 
f No two birds fly in the fame manner., if their motions are 
-accurately attended to. 
2 few 
