Volume I Part 11 (2/2)

I am, etc.

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 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.

RAII NOMINA.

1. Woodlark, _Alauda In January, and arborea_. continues to sing through all the summer and autumn.

2. Song thrush, _t.u.r.dus In February, and on simpliciter to August; dictus_. re-a.s.sume their song in autumn.

3. Wren, _Pa.s.ser All the year, hard troglodytes_. frost excepted.

4. Redbreast, _Rubecula_. Ditto.

5. Hedge-sparrow. _Curruca_. Early in February to July 10th.

6. Yellow-hammer, _Emberiza Early in February, flava_. and on through July to August 21st.

7. Skylark, _Alauda In February and on vulgaris_. to October.

8. Swallow, _Hirundo From April to domestica_. September.

9. Blackcap, _Atricapilla_. Beginning of April to July 13th.

10. t.i.tlark, _Alauda From middle of pratorum_. April to July 16th.

11. Blackbird, _Merula Sometimes in vulgaris_. February and March, and so on to July 23rd; re-a.s.sumes in autumn.

12. Whitethroat, _Ficedulae In April, and on to affinis_. July 23rd.

13. Goldfinch, _Carduelis_. April, and through to September 16th.

14. Greenfinch, _Chloris_. On to July and August 2nd.

15. Less _Pa.s.ser May, on to reed-sparrow. arundinaceus beginning of July.

minor_.

16. Common linnet, _Linaria Breeds and whistles vulgaris_. on till August; re-a.s.sumes 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 _Regulus non Middle of June; willow-wren, cristatus_. 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, _t.u.r.dus January 2nd, 1770, viscivorus_. in February. Is called Hamps.h.i.+re and Suss.e.x the storm-c.o.c.k, because its song is supposed to forebode windy wet weather: it is the largest singing bird we have.

22. Great _Fringillago_. In February, March, t.i.t-mouse, or April; re-a.s.sumes ox-eye. 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 _Regulus Its note as minute as wren, cristatus_. its person; frequents the tops of high oaks and firs; the smallest British bird.

24. Marsh t.i.t-mouse, _Parus pal.u.s.tris_. Haunts great woods; two harsh, sharp notes.

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