THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. — 59 
the neighboring cottages, I could not help being touched with 
a secret delight, mixed with some degree of mortification; with 
delight, to observe with how much ardor and punctuality those 
poor little birds obeyed the strong impulse towards migration 
or hiding, imprinted on their minds by their great Creator; and 
with some degree of mortification, when I reflected that, after 
all our pains and inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to what 
regions they do migrate; and are still farther embarrassed to 
find that some do not actually migrate at all. 
These reflections made so strong an impression on my im- 
agination, that they became productive of a composition that 
may perhaps amuse you for a quarter of an hour when next I 
have the honor of writing to you. 
LETTER XXIV. 
SELBORNE, May 29th, 1769. 
The glow-worm (Scarabeus fullo) | know very well, having 
seen it in collections; but have never been able to discover 
one wild in its natural state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it 
might be found on the sea-coast. 
On the 13th April I went to the sheep-down, where the ring- 
ousels have been observed to make their appearance at spring 
and fall, in their way perhaps to the north or south ; and was 
much pleased to see these birds about the usual spot. We 
shot a cock and a hen; they were plump and in high condi- 
tion. The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs within 
her, which proves they are late breeders; whereas those species 
of the thrush kind that remain with us the whole year have 
fledged young before that time. In their crops was nothing 
very distinguishable, but somewhat that seemed like blades of 
vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they feed on haws and 
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