SELBORNE, _Nov. 26th_, 1770.
Dear Sir,--I was much pleased to see, among the collection of birds from
Gibraltar, some of those short-winged English summer birds of passage,
concerning whose departure we have made so much inquiry. Now if these
birds are found in Andalusia to migrate to and from Barbary, it may
easily be supposed that those that come to us may migrate back to the
continent, and spend their winters in some of the warmer parts of Europe.
This is certain, that many soft-billed birds that come to Gibraltar
appear there only in spring and autumn, seeming to advance in pairs
towards the northward for the sake of breeding during the summer months,
and retiring in parties and broods towards the south at the decline of
the year; so that the rock of Gibraltar is the great rendezvous and place
of observation, from whence they take their departure each way towards
Europe or Africa. It is therefore no mean discovery, I think, to find
that our small short-winged summer birds of passage are to be seen spring
and autumn on the very skirts of Europe; it is presumptive proof of their
emigrations.
Scopoli seems to me to have found the _hirundo melba_, the great
Gibraltar swift, in Tirol, without knowing it. For what is his _hirundo
alpina_ but the afore-mentioned bird in other words? Says he, "_Omnia
prioris_" (meaning the swift); "_sed pectus album_; _paulo major
priore_." I do not suppose this to be a new species. It is true also of
the _melba_, that "_nidificat in excelsis Alpium rupibus_." _Vid. Annum
Primum_.
My Sussex friend, a man of observation and good sense, but no naturalist,
to whom I applied on account of the stone-curlew, _oedicnemus_, sends me
the following account: "In looking over my Naturalist's Journal for the
month of April, I find the stone-curlews are first mentioned on the
seventeenth and eighteenth, which date seems to me rather late. They
live with us all the spring 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.