NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 199 



would approach the quadruped with notes of complacency, rubbing 

 herself gently against his legs : while the horse would look down 

 with satisfaction, and move with the greatest caution and circum- 

 spection, lest he should trample on his diminutive companion. 

 Thus, by mutual good offices, each seemed to console the vacant 

 hours of the other : so that Milton, when he puts the following 

 sentiment in the mouth of Adam, seems to be somewhat mistaken : 



' Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl, 

 So well converse, nor with the ox the ape." 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XXV. 



SELBORNE, Oct. 2nd, 1775. 



DEAR SIR, We have two gangs or hordes of gypsies which 

 infest the south and west of England, and come round in their 

 circuit two or three times in the year. One of these tribes calls 

 4tself by the noble name of Stanley, of which I have nothing par- 

 ticular to say ; but the other is distinguished by an appellative 

 somewhat remarkable. As far as their harsh gibberish can be 

 understood, they seem to say that the name of their clan is Curle- 

 ople; now the termination of this word is apparently Grecian, 

 and as Mezeray and the gravest historians all agree that these 

 vagrants did certainly migrate from Egypt and the East, two or 

 three centuries ago, and so spread by degrees over Europe, may 

 not this family-name, a little corrupted, be the very name they 

 brought with them from the Levant ? It would be matter of some 

 curiosity, could one meet with an intelligent person among them, 

 to inquire whether, in their jargon, they still retain any Greek 

 words ; the Greek radicals will appear in hand, foot, head, water, 

 earth, etc. It is possible that amidst their cant and corrupted 

 dialect many mutilated remains of their native language might still 

 be discovered. 



With regard to those peculiar people, the gypsies, one thing is 

 very remarkable, and especially as they came from warmer 



