LETTER II.

Selborne, Nov. 2nd, 1769.

Dear Sir,—When I did myself the honour to write to you about the end of last June on the subject of natural history, I sent you a list of the summer birds of passage which I have observed in this neighbourhood, and also a list of the winter birds of passage: I

[a/]mentioned besides those soft-billed birds that stay with us the winter through in the south of England, and those that are remarkable for singing in the night.

According to my proposal, I shall now proceed to such birds (singing birds strictly so called) as continue in full song till after Midsummer, and shall range them somewhat in the order in which they first begin to open as the spring advances.

RAII NOMINA.
1. Woodlark, Alauda arborea. In January, and continues to sing through all the summer and autumn.
2. Song thrush, Turdus simpliciter dictus. In February, and on to August; re-assume their song in autumn.
3. Wren, Passer troglodytes. All the year, hard frost excepted.
4. Redbreast, Rubecula. Ditto.
5. Hedge-sparrow. Curruca. Early in February to July 10th.
6. Yellow-hammer, Emberiza flava. Early in February, and on through July to August 21st.
7. Skylark, Alauda vulgaris. In February and on to October.
8. Swallow, Hirundo domestica. From April to September.
9. Blackcap, Atricapilla. Beginning of April to July 13th.
10. Titlark, Alauda pratorum. From middle of April to July 16th.
11. Blackbird, Merula vulgaris. Sometimes in February and March, and so on to July 23rd; re-assumes in autumn.
12. Whitethroat, Ficedulæ affinis. In April, and on to July 23rd.
13. Goldfinch, Carduelis. April, and through to September 16th.
14. Greenfinch, Chloris. On to July and August 2nd.
15. Less reed-sparrow. Passer arundinaceus minor. May, on to beginning of July.
16. Common linnet, Linaria vulgaris. Breeds and whistles on till August; re-assumes its note when they begin to congregate in October, and again early before the flocks separate.

Birds that cease to be in full song, and are usually silent at or before Midsummer:—

RAII NOMINA.
17. Middle willow-wren, Regulus non cristatus. Middle of June; begins in April.
18. Redstart, Ruticilla. Ditto; begins in May.
19. Chaffinch, Fringilla. Beginning of June; sings first in April.
20. Nightingale, Luscinia. Middle of June; sings first in April.

Birds that sing for a short time, and very early in the spring:—

RAII NOMINA.
21. Missel-bird, Turdus viscivorus. January 2nd, 1770, in February. Is called Hampshire and Sussex the storm-cock, because its song is supposed to forebode windy wet weather: it is the largest singing bird we have.
22. Great tit-mouse, or ox-eye. Fringillago. In February, March, April; re-assumes for a short time in September.

Birds that have somewhat of a note or song, and yet are hardly to be called singing birds:—

RAII NOMINA.
23. Golden-crowned wren, Regulus cristatus. Its note as minute as its person; frequents the tops of high oaks and firs; the smallest British bird.
24. Marsh tit-mouse, Parus palustris. Haunts great woods; two harsh, sharp notes.
25. Small willow-wren, Regulus non cristatus. Sings in March, and on to September.
26. Largest ditto, Ditto. Cantat voce stridulâ locustæ; from end of April to August.
27. Grasshopper-lark, Alauda minima voce locustæ. Chirps all night, from the middle of April to the end of July.
28. Martin, Hirundo agrestis. All the breeding time; from May to September.
29. Bullfinch, Pyrrhula.
30. Bunting, Emberiza alba. From the end of January to July.

All singing birds, and those that have any pretensions to song, not only in Britain, but perhaps the world through, come under the Linnæan ordo of Passeres.

The above-mentioned birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following Linnæan genera:—

1,7,10,27, Alauda 8,28, Hirundo.
2,11,21, Turdus. 13,16,19, Fringilla.
3,4,5,9,12, ) 22,24, Parus.
15,17,18,20, ) Motacilla 14,29, Loxia.
23,25,26, )
6,20, Emberiza.

Birds that sing as they fly are but few:—

RAII NOMINA.
Skylark, Alauda vulgaris. Rising, suspended, and falling.
Titlark, Alauda pratorum. In its descent; also sitting on trees, and walking on the ground.
Woodlark, Alauda arborea. Suspended; in hot summer nights all night long.
Blackbird, Merula. Sometimes from bush to bush.
Whitethroat, Ficedula affinis. Uses when singing on the wing odd jerks and gesticulations.
Swallow, Hirundo domestica. In soft sunny weather.
Wren, Passer troglodytes. Sometimes from bush to bush.

Birds that breed most early in these parts:—

RAII NOMINA.
Raven, Corvus. Hatches in February and March.
Song-thrush, Turdus. In March.
Blackbird, Merula. In March.
Rook, Cornix frugilega. Builds the beginning of March.
Woodlark, Alauda arborea. Hatches in April.
Ring-dove, Palumbus torquatus. Lays the beginning of April.

All birds that continue in full song till after Midsummer appear to me to breed more than once.

Most kinds of birds seem to me to be wild and shy

somewhat in proportion to their bulk: I mean in this island, where they are much pursued and annoyed; but in Ascension Island, and many other desolate places, mariners have found fowls so unacquainted with a human figure, that they would stand still to be taken, as is the case with boobies, etc. As an example of what is advanced, I remark that the golden-crested wren (the smallest British bird) will stand unconcerned till you come within three or four yards of it, while the bustard (Otis), the largest British land fowl, does not care to admit a person within so many furlongs.

I am, etc.