It is, I find, in zoology as it is in botany: all nature is so full, that
that district produces the greatest variety which is the most
examined. Several birds, which are said to belong to the north only,
are, it seems, often in the south. I have discovered this summer
three species of birds with us, which writers mention as only to be
seen in the northern counties. The first that was brought me (on the
14th of May) was the sandpiper, tringa hypoleucus: it was a cock
bird, and haunted the banks of some ponds near the village; and, as
it had a companion, doubtless intended to have bred near that
water. Besides, the owner has told me since, that, on recollection,
he has seen some of the same birds round his ponds in former
summers.

The next bird that I procured (on the 21st of May) was a male red-
backed butcher bird, lanius collurio. My neighbour, who shot it,
says that it might easily have escaped his notice, had not the
outcries and chattering of the white-throats and other small birds
drawn his attention to the bush where it was: its craw was filled
with the legs and wings of beetles.

The next rare birds (which were procured for me last week) were
some ring-ousels, turdi torquati.

This week twelve months a gentleman from London, being with us,
was amusing himself with a gun, and found, he told us, on an old
yew hedge where there were berries, some birds like blackbirds,
with rings of white round their necks: a neighbouring farmer also at
the same time observed the same; but, as no specimens were
procured little notice was taken. I mentioned this circumstance to
you in my letter of November the 4th, 1767 (you, however, paid