House-martins came remarkably late this year both in Hampshire
and Devonshire: is this circumstance for or against either hiding or
migration ?
Most birds drink sipping at intervals; but pigeons take a long
continued draught, like quadrupeds.
Notwithstanding what I have said in a former letter, no grey crows
were ever known to breed on Dartmoor: it was my mistake.
The appearance and flying of the scarabaeus solstitialis, or fern-
chafer, commence with the month of July, and cease about the end
of it. These scarabs are the constant food of caprimulgi, or fern-
owls, through that period. They abound on the chalky downs and in
some sandy districts, but not in the clays.
In the garden of the Black-bear inn in the town of Reading is a
stream or canal running under the stables and out into the fields on
the other side of the road; in this water are many carps, which lie
rolling about in sight, being fed by travellers, who amuse
themselves by tossing them bread: but as soon as the weather
grows at all severe these fishes are no longer seen, because they
retire under the stables, where they remain till the return of spring.
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