Your approbation, with regard to my new discovery of the
migration of the ring-ousel, gives me satisfaction; and I find you
concur with me in suspecting that they are foreign birds which visit
us. You will be sure, I hope, not to omit to make inquiry whether
your ring-ousels leave your rocks in the autumn. What puzzles me
most, is the very short stay they make with us; for in about three
weeks they are all gone. I shall be very curious to remark whether
they will call on us at their return in the spring, as they did last
year.
I want to be better informed with regard to ichthyology. If fortune
had settled me near the sea-side, or near some great river, my
natural propensity would soon have urged me to have made myself
acquainted with their productions: but as I have lived mostly in
inland parts, and in an upland district, my knowledge of fishes
extends little farther than to those common sorts which our brooks
and lakes produce.
I am, etc.
Letter XXII
To Thomas Pennant, Esquire
Selborne, July 2, 1769.
Pages:
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119