The Natural History of Selborne [51]
6, 30. Emberiza.
8, 28. Hirundo.
13, 16, 19. Pringilla.
22, 24. Parus.
14, 29. Loxia.
Birds that sing as they fly are but few:
Skylark, Raii nomina. 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.
White-throat, Ficedulae 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:
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, Palurnbus 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 an 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.
Letter III To The Honourable Daines Barrington
Selborne, Jan. 15, 1770.
Dear Sir,
It was no small matter of satisfaction to me to find that you were not displeased with my little methodus of birds. If there was any merit in the sketch, it must be owing to its punctually. For many months I carried a list in my pocket of the birds that were to be remarked, and, as I rode or walked about my business, I noted each day the continuance or omission of each bird's song; so that I am as sure of the certainty of my facts as a man can be of any transaction whatsoever.
I shall now proceed to answer the several queries which you put in your two obliging letters, in the best manner that I am able. Perhaps Eastwick, and its environs, where you heard so very few birds, is not a woodland country, and therefore not stocked with such songsters. If you will cast your eye on my last letter, you will find that many species continued to warble after the beginning of July.
The titlark and yellowhammer breed late, the latter very late; and therefore it is no wonder that they protract their song; for I lay it down as a maxim in ornithology, that as long as there is any incubation going on there is music. As to the red-breast and wren, it is well known to the most incurious observer that they whistle the year round, hard frost excepted; especially the latter.
It was not in my power to procure you a black-cap, or a less reed- sparrow, or sedge-bird, alive. As the first is undoubtedly, and the last, as far as I can yet see, a summer bird of passage, they would require more nice and curious management in a cage than I should be able to give them; they are both distinguished songsters. The note of the former has such a wild sweetness that it always brings to my mind those lines in a song in As You Like It,
And tune his merry note Unto the wild bird's throat.-Shakespeare.
The latter has a surprising variety of notes resembling the song of several other birds; but then it also has an hurrying mariner, not at all to its advantage; it is notwithstanding a delicate polyglot.
It is new to me that titlarks in cages sing in the night; perhaps only caged birds do so. I once knew a tame red-breast in a cage that always sang as long as candles were in the room; but in their wild state no one supposes