[2] Unfortunately, the story runs, the seed merchant supplied instead a much coarser grass, possibly giant fescue,[a] which grew so rank and tall that the sheep would not eat it, and it had to be controlled by scything.

His land along the south coast of Sussex and the Pevensey Levels, with the time available to a gentleman of leisure, enabled him to observe wildlife in detail around the year, in particular wetland birds and marine animals including fish.

He noted Buffon's objections to the value of the beaks of birds such as the crossbill, calling it "a deformity", and of the black skimmer ("an awkward and defective instrument").

[2] Markwick correctly pointed out that these were "admirably well formed" for their specific purposes and rebukes Buffon for "finding fault with the works of the Creator".

by William Markwick, Esq., Associate [of the Linnean Society] had been published:[5] These observations were made at Catsfield near Battle in Sussex.