n their minds by their great
Creator; and with some degree of mortification when I reflected that,
after all our pains and inquiries, we are yet not quite certain to what
regions they do migrate, and are still farther embarrassed to find that
some do not actually migrate at all.

These reflections made so strong an impression on my imagination, that
they became productive of a composition that may perhaps amuse you for a
quarter of an hour when next I have the honour of writing to you.

LETTER XXIV.

SELBORNE, _May 29th_, 1769.

Dear Sir,--The _scaraboeus fullo_ I know very well, having seen it in
collections, but have never been able to discover one wild in its natural
state. Mr. Banks told me he thought it might be found on the sea-coast.

On the 13th April I went to the sheep-down, where the _ring-ousels_ have
been observed to make their appearance at spring and fall, in their way
perhaps to the north or south, and was much pleased to see these birds
about the usual spot. We shot a cock and a hen; they were plump and in
high condition. The hen had but very small rudiments of eggs within her,
which proves they are late breeders; whereas those species of the thrush
kind that remain with us the whole year have fledged young before that
time. In their crops was nothing very distinguishable, but somewhat that
seemed like blades of vegetables nearly digested. In autumn they feed on
haws and yew-berries, and in the spring on ivy-berries. I dressed one of
these birds, and found it juicy and well-flavoured. It is remarkable
that they make but a few days' stay in their spring visit, but rest near
a fortnight at Michaelmas. These birds, from the observations of three
springs and two autumns, are most punctual in their return, and exhibit a
new migration unnoticed by the writers, who supposed they never were to
be seen in any southern countries.

One of my neighbours lately brought me a new _salicaria_, which at first
I suspected might have proved your willow-lark, but, on a nicer
examination, it answered much better to the description of that species
which you shot at Revesby, in Lincolnshire. My bird I describe thus: "It
is a size less than the grasshopper-lark; the head, back, and coverts of
the wings, of a dusky brown, without those dark spots of the
grasshopper-lark; over each eye is a milk-white stroke; the chin and
throat are white; and the under parts of