THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE., — 35 
Sussex in autumn; but that they do not all withdraw I am 
sure ; because I see a few stragglers in many counties, at all 
times of the year, especially about warrens and stone quarries. 
I have no acquaintance, at present, among the gentlemen of 
the navy ; but have written to a friend, who was a sea-chaplain 
in the late war, desiring him to look into his minutes, with 
respect to birds that settled on their rigging during their voy- 
age up or down the Channel. What Hasselquist says on that 
subject is remarkable; there were little short-winged birds 
frequently coming on board his ship all the way from our 
Channel quite up to the Levant, especially before. squally 
weather. 
What you suggest with regard to Spain is highly probable. 
The winters of Andalusia are so mild that, in all likelihood, the 
soft-billed birds that leave us at that season may find insects 
sufficient to support them there. 
Some young man, possessed of fortune, health, and leisure, 
should make an autumnal voyage into that kingdom; and 
should spend a year there, investigating the natural history of 
that vast country. Mr. Willughby passed through that king- 
dom on such an errand; but he seems to have skirted along in 
a superficial manner and an ill-humor, being much disgusted 
at the rude, dissolute manners of the people. 
I have no friend left now at Sunbury to apply to about the 
swallows roosting on the aits of the Thames: nor can I hear 
any more about those birds which I suspected were ring-ousels. 
As to the small mice, I have farther to remark, that though 
they hang their nests for breeding up amidst the straws of the 
standing corn, above the ground; yet I find that, in the winter, 
they burrow deep in the earth, and make warm beds of grass : 
but their grand rendezvous seéms to be in corn-ricks, into 
which they are carried at harvest. A neighbor housed an 
oat-rick lately, under the thatch of which were assembled 
nearly a hundred, most of which were taken, and some I saw. 
