. The natural history of Selborne [microform]. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. SfreaTlct) mouse \ \ 1 s r s It it I t" â y LETTER 'To the same. IT is matter of curious inquiry to trace out how those species of soft-billed birds that continue with us the v/inter through, subsist during the dead months. The imbecility [feebleness] of birds seems not to be the only reason why they shun the rigour of our winters ; for the robust wryneck (so much resembling the hardy race of woodpeckers) migrates, while the feeble little golden-crowned wren, that shadow of a bird, braves our severe
. The natural history of Selborne [microform]. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. SfreaTlct) mouse \ \ 1 s r s It it I t" â y LETTER 'To the same. IT is matter of curious inquiry to trace out how those species of soft-billed birds that continue with us the v/inter through, subsist during the dead months. The imbecility [feebleness] of birds seems not to be the only reason why they shun the rigour of our winters ; for the robust wryneck (so much resembling the hardy race of woodpeckers) migrates, while the feeble little golden-crowned wren, that shadow of a bird, braves our severest frosts without availing himself of houses and villages, to which most of our winter birds crowd m distressful seasons, while this keeps aloof in fields and woods ; but perhaps this may be the reason why they may often perish, and why they are almost as rare as any bird we know. I have no reason to doubt but that the soft-billed birds, which winter with us, subsist chiefly on insects in their aurelia state. All the species of wagtails in severe weather haunt shallow streams near their spring-heads, where they never freeze ; and, by wading, pick out the aurelias of the genus of Phryganea* &c. * See Derham's " Physico-theology," p. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original White, Gilbert, 1720-1793; Allen, Grant, 1848-1899. London; New York : J. Lane
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, books, booksubjectnaturalhistory
