I 4 2 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



When birds come to suffer by severe frost, I find that the first 

 that fail and die are the redwing-fieldfares, and then the song- 

 thrushes. 



You wonder, with good reason, that the hedge-sparrows, etc., 

 can be induced at all to sit on the egg of the cuckoo without being 

 scandalised at the vast disproportionate size of the supposititious 

 egg j but the brute creation, I suppose, have very little idea of 

 size, colour, or number. For the common hen, I know, when the 

 fury of incubation is on her, will sit on a single shapeless stone 

 instead of a nest full of eggs that have been withdrawn : and, 

 moreover, a hen-turkey, in the same circumstances, would sit on 

 in the empty nest till she perished with hunger. 



I think the matter might easily be determined whether a cuckoo 

 lays one or two eggs, or more, in a season, by opening a female 

 during the laying-time. If more than one was come down out of 

 the ovary and advanced to a good size, doubtless then she would 

 that spring lay more than one. 



I will endeavour to get a hen, and to examine. 



Your supposition that there may be some natural obstruction in 

 singing birds while they are mute, and that when this is removed 

 the song recommences, is new and bold : I wish you could dis- 

 cover some good grounds for this suspicion. 



I was glad you were pleased with my specimen of the capri- 

 mulgus, or fern-owl; you were, I find, acquainted with the bird 

 before. 



When we meet I shall be glad to have some conversation with 

 you concerning the proposal you make of my drawing up an 

 account of the animals in this neighbourhood. Your partiality 

 towards my small abilities persuades you, I fear, that I am able to 

 do more than is in my power : for it is no small undertaking for a 

 man unsupported and alone to begin a natural history from his 

 own autopsia ! Though there is endless room for observation in 

 the field of nature, which is boundless, yet investigation (where a 

 man endeavours to be sure of his facts) can make but slow pro- 

 gress ; and all that one could collect in many years would go into 

 a very narrow compass. 

 . Some extracts from your ingenious " Investigations of the Differ- 



