t-billed birds live on insects, and not on grain and seeds; and therefore at the end of summer they retire: but the following soft-billed birds, though insect-eaters, stay with us the year round:
Red-breast, Raii nomina: Rubecula:
Wren, Passer troglodytes: These frequent houses; and haunt outbuildings in the winter; eat spiders.
Hedge-sparrow, Curruca: Haunt sinks for crumbs and other sweepings.
White-wagtail, Motacilla alba:
Yellow-wagtail, Motacilla flava:
Grey-wagtail, Motacilla cinerea: These frequent shallow rivulets near the spring heads, where they never freeze: eat the aureliae of Phryganea. The smallest birds that walk.
Wheat-ear, Oenanthe: Some of these are to be seen with us the winter through.
Whin-chat, OEnanthe secunda:
Stone-chatter, OEnanthe tertia:
Golden-crowned wren, Regulus cristatus: This is the smallest British bird: haunts the tops of tall trees; stays the winter through.
A List of the Winter Birds of Passage round this neighbourhood, ranged somewhat in the order in which they appear:
1. Ring-ousel, Raii nomina: Merula torquata: This is a new migration which I have lately discovered about Michaelmas week, and again about the fourteenth of March.
2. Redwing, Turdus iliacus: About Michaelmas.
3. Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris, Though a percher by day, roosts on the ground.
4. Royston-crew, Cornix cinerea: Most frequent on downs.
5. Wood-cock, Scolopax: Appears about old Michaelmas.
6. Snipe, Gallinago minor: Some snipes constantly breed with us.
7. Jack-snipe, Gallinago minima:
8. Wood-pigeon, OEnas: Seldom appears till late: not in such plenty as formerly.
9. Wild-swan,
