ing and summer, and at the beginning of autumn
prepare to take leave by getting together in flocks. They seem to me a
bird of passage that may travel into some dry, hilly country south of us,
probably Spain, because of the abundance of sheep-walks in that country;
for they spend their summers with us in such districts. This conjecture
I hazard, as I have never met with any one that has seen them in England
in the winter. I believe they are not fond of going near the water, but
feed on earth-worms, that are common on sheep-walks and downs. They
breed on fallows and lay-fields abounding with grey mossy flints, which
much resemble their young in colour, among which they skulk and conceal
themselves. They make no nest, but lay their eggs on the bare ground,
producing in common but two at a time. There is reason to think their
young run soon after they are hatched, and that the old ones do not feed
them, but only lead them about at the time of feeding, which, for the
most part, is in the night." Thus far, my friend.

In the manners of this bird you see there is something very analogous to
the bustard whom it also somewhat resembles in aspect and make, and in
the structure of its feet.

For a long time I have desired my relation to look out for these birds in
Andalusia, and now he writes me word that, for the first time, he saw one
dead in the market on the 3rd September.

When the _oedicnemus_ flies it stretches out its legs straight behind,
like a heron.

I am, etc.

LETTER XXXIV.

SELBORNE, _March 30th_, 1771.

Dear Sir,--There is an insect with us, especially on chalky districts,
which is very troublesome and teasing all the latter end of the summer,
getting into people's skins, especially those of women and children, and
raising tumours which itch intolerably. This animal (which we call a
harvest bug) is very minute, scarce discernible to the naked eye, of a
bright scarlet colour, and of the genus of Acarus. They are to be met
with in gardens on kidney-beans, or any legumens, but prevail only in the
hot months of summer. Warreners, as some have assured me, are much
infested by them on chalky downs, where these insects swarm sometimes to
so infinite a degree as to discolour their nets, and to give them a
reddish cast, while the men are so bitten as to be thrown into fevers.

There is a small