OF SELBORNE. 143 
Virgil, as a familiar occurrence, by way of simile, 
describes a dove haunting the cavern of a rock in 
such engaging numbers that [ cannot refrain from 
quoting the passage ; and John Dryden has render. 
ed it so happily in our language, that, without far- 
ther excuse, I shall add his translation also. 
“ Qualis spelunca subité commota columba, 
Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 
Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 
Dat tecto ingentem—imox aére lapsa quieto, 
Radit iter liquidum, celeris neque commovet alas.” 
** As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes, 
Roused, in a fright her sounding wings she shakes; 
The cavern rings with clattering; out she flies, 
And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies : 
At first she flutters, but at length she springs 
To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings.” 
though corn-fed, delight in a variety of plants, such as cabbage, 
lettuce, endive, &c., and poultry pick much grass, while geese 
live for months together on commons, by grazing alone. 
‘‘Naught is useless made: 
On the barren heath 
The shepherd tends his flock, that daily crop 
Their verdant dinner from the mossy turf 
Sufficient: after them the cackling goose, 
Close grazer, finds wherewith to ease her want.” 
Puivips’s Cypgr. 
Wuite, Observations on Birds. 
