The Natural History of Selborne Part 14

A List of the Winter Birds of Pa.s.sage round this neighbourhood, ranged somewhat in the order in which they appear:

1. Ring-ousel, Raii nomina: Merula torquata: This is a new migration which I have lately discovered about Michaelmas week, and again about the fourteenth of March.

2. Redwing, t.u.r.dus iliacus: About Michaelmas.

3. Fieldfare, t.u.r.dus pilaris, Though a percher by day, roosts on the ground.

4. Royston-crew, Cornix cinerea: Most frequent on downs.

5. Wood-c.o.c.k, Scolopax: Appears about old Michaelmas.

6. Snipe, Gallinago minor: Some snipes constantly breed with us.

7. Jack-snipe, Gallinago minima:

8. Wood-pigeon, OEnas: Seldom appears till late: not in such plenty as formerly.

9. Wild-swan, Cygnus ferus: On some large waters.

10. Wild-goose, Anser ferus:

11. Wild-duck, Anas torquata minor:

12. Pochard, Anas fera fusca:

13. Widgeon, Penelope:

14. Teal, breeds with us in Wolmer-forest, Querquedula: On our lakes and streams.

15. Gross-beak, Coccothraustes:

16. Cross-bill, Loxia:

17. Silk-tail, Garrulus bohemicus: These are only wanderers that appear occasionally, and are not observant of any regular migration.

These birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following Linnaean genera:

1, 2, 3.

t.u.r.dus.

4.

Corvus.

5, 6, 7.

Scolopax.

8.

Columba.

9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

Anas.

15, 16.

Loxia.

17.

Ampelis.

Birds that sing in the night are but few:

Nightingale, Luscinia: 'In shadiest covert hid.'--MILTON.

Woodlark, Alauda arborea: Suspended in mid air.

Less reed-sparrow, Pa.s.ser arundinaceus minor: Among reeds and willows.

I should now proceed to such birds as continue to sing after Midsummer, but, as they are rather numerous, they would exceed the bounds of this paper: besides, as this is now the season for remarking on that subject, I am willing to repeat my observations on some birds concerning the continuation of whose song I seem at present to have some doubt.

I am, etc.

Letter II To The Honourable Daines Barrington

Selborne, Nov. 2, 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 pa.s.sage which I have observed in this neighbourhood; and also a list of the winter birds of pa.s.sage; I 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.

1. Woodlark, Raii nomina: Alauda arborea: In January, and continues to sing through all the summer and autumn.

2. Song-thrush, t.u.r.dus simpliciter dictus: In February and on to August, rea.s.sume their song in autumn.

3. Wren, Pa.s.ser troglodytes: All the year, hard frost excepted.

4. Red-breast, Rubecula: Ditto.

5. Hedge-sparrow, Curruca: Early in February to July the 10th.

6. Yellow-hammer, Emberiza flava: Early in February, and on through July to August the 21st.

7. Skylark, Alauda vulgaris: In February, and on to October.

8. Swallow, Hirundo domestica: From April to September.

9. Black-cap, Atricapilla: Beginning of April to July 13.