writing to you.



Letter XXIV
To Thomas Pennant, Esquire

Selborne, May 29, 1769.

Dear Sir,

The scarabaeus 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 thirteenth of 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 three 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