SELBORNE, _Nov. 2nd_, 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.
RAII NOMINA.
1. Woodlark, _Alauda In January, and
arborea_. continues to sing
through all the
summer and autumn.
2. Song thrush, _Turdus In February, and on
simpliciter to August;
dictus_. re-assume their
song in autumn.
3. Wren, _Passer All the year, hard
troglodytes_. frost excepted.
4. Redbreast, _Rubecula_. Ditto.
5. Hedge-sparrow. _Curruca_. Early in February
to July 10th.
6. Yellow-hammer, _Emberiza Early in February,
flava_. and on through July
to August 21st.
7. Skylark, _Alauda In February and on
vulgaris_. to October.
8. Swallow, _Hirundo From April to
domestica_. September.
9. Blackcap, _Atricapilla_. Beginning of April
to July 13th.
10. Titlark, _Alauda From middle of
pratorum_. April to July 16th.
11. Blackbird, _Merula Sometimes in
vulgaris_. February and March,
and so on to July
23rd; re-assumes in
autumn.
12. Whitethroat, _Ficedulae In April, and on to
affinis_. July 23rd.
13. Goldfinch, _Carduelis_. April, and through
to September 16th.
14. Greenfinch, _Chloris_. On to July and
August 2nd.
15. Less _Passer May, on to
reed-sparrow. arundinaceus beginning of July.
minor_.
16. Common linnet, _Linaria Breeds and whistles
vulgaris_. on till August;
re-assumes its note
when they begin to
congregate in
October, and again
early before the
flocks separate.
Birds that cease to be in full song, and are usually silent at or before
Midsummer:--
RAII NOMINA.
17. Middle _Regulus non Middle of June;
willow-wren, cristatus_. begins in April.
18. Redstart, _Ruticilla_. Ditto; begins in
May.
19. Chaffinch, _Fringilla_. Beginning of June;
sings first in
April.
20. Nightingale, _Luscinia_. Middle of June;
sings first in
April.