The Natural History of Selborne [50]
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 passage which I have observed in this neighbourhood; and also a list of the winter birds of passage; 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, Turdus simpliciter dictus: In February and on to August, reassume their song in autumn.
3. Wren, Passer 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.
10. Titlark, Alauda pratorum: From middle of April to July the 16th.
11. Blackbird, Merula vulgaris: Sometimes in February and March, and so on to July the twenty third; reassumes in autumn.
12. White-throat, Ficedulcae affinis: In April and on to July 23.
13. Goldfinch, Carduelis: April and through to September 16.
14. Greenfinch, Chloris: On to July and August 2.
15. Less reed-sparrow, Passer arundinaceus minor: May, on to beginning of July.
16. Common linnet, Linaria vulgaris: Breeds and whistles on till August; reassumes its note when they begin to congregate in October, and again early before the flock separate.
Birds that cease to be in full song, and are usually silent at or before Midsurnmer:
17. Middle willow-wren, Regulus non cristatus: Middle of June: begins in April.
18. Red-start, Ruticilla: Middle of June: begins in May.
19. Chaffinch, Fringilla: Beginning of June: sings first in February.
20. Nightingale, Luscinia: Middle of June: sings first in April.
Birds that sing for a short tune, and very early in the spring:
21. Missel-bird, Turdus viscivorus: January the 2nd, 1770, in February. Is called in Hampshire and Sussex the storm -cock, because its song is supposed to forebode windy wet weather: is the largest singing bird we have.
22. Great tit-mouse, or ox-eye, Fringillago: In February, March, April: reassumes for a short time in September.
Birds that have somewhat of a note or song, and yet are hardly to be called singing birds:
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 titmouse, 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 stridula locustae: from end of April to August.
27. Grasshopper-lark, Alauda minima voce locustae: 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 Linnaean ordo of passeres.
The above-mentioned birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following Linnaean genera.
1, 7, 10, 27. Alauda.
2, 11, 21. Turdus.
3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26. Motacilla.
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 passage which I have observed in this neighbourhood; and also a list of the winter birds of passage; 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, Turdus simpliciter dictus: In February and on to August, reassume their song in autumn.
3. Wren, Passer 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.
10. Titlark, Alauda pratorum: From middle of April to July the 16th.
11. Blackbird, Merula vulgaris: Sometimes in February and March, and so on to July the twenty third; reassumes in autumn.
12. White-throat, Ficedulcae affinis: In April and on to July 23.
13. Goldfinch, Carduelis: April and through to September 16.
14. Greenfinch, Chloris: On to July and August 2.
15. Less reed-sparrow, Passer arundinaceus minor: May, on to beginning of July.
16. Common linnet, Linaria vulgaris: Breeds and whistles on till August; reassumes its note when they begin to congregate in October, and again early before the flock separate.
Birds that cease to be in full song, and are usually silent at or before Midsurnmer:
17. Middle willow-wren, Regulus non cristatus: Middle of June: begins in April.
18. Red-start, Ruticilla: Middle of June: begins in May.
19. Chaffinch, Fringilla: Beginning of June: sings first in February.
20. Nightingale, Luscinia: Middle of June: sings first in April.
Birds that sing for a short tune, and very early in the spring:
21. Missel-bird, Turdus viscivorus: January the 2nd, 1770, in February. Is called in Hampshire and Sussex the storm -cock, because its song is supposed to forebode windy wet weather: is the largest singing bird we have.
22. Great tit-mouse, or ox-eye, Fringillago: In February, March, April: reassumes for a short time in September.
Birds that have somewhat of a note or song, and yet are hardly to be called singing birds:
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 titmouse, 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 stridula locustae: from end of April to August.
27. Grasshopper-lark, Alauda minima voce locustae: 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 Linnaean ordo of passeres.
The above-mentioned birds, as they stand numerically, belong to the following Linnaean genera.
1, 7, 10, 27. Alauda.
2, 11, 21. Turdus.
3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26. Motacilla.