'--MILTON.
Woodlark,
Alauda arborea:
Suspended in mid air.
Less reed-sparrow,
Passer arundinaceus minor:
Among reeds and willows.
I should now proceed to such birds as continue to sing after
Midsummer, but, as they are rather numerous, they would exceed
the bounds of this paper: besides, as this is now the season for
remarking on that subject, I am willing to repeat my observations
on some birds concerning the continuation of whose song I seem at
present to have some doubt.
I am, etc.
Letter II
To The Honourable Daines Barrington
Selborne, Nov. 2, 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.
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