1743-4.] TO JOHN BARTRAM. 167 



what my friend Sam Chew said (who recommended thee to me,) 

 that nothing can well escape thee. 



The small nest has this singularity, that it seems all tied, twisted, 

 and wove together, with flaxen or hempen threads : nay, some 

 white thread-like substance has assisted, with the others, to tie the 

 branch and nest together. As these seem to be all the refuse of 

 the thread-spinners, which may be thrown out and picked up by 

 the birds, for their use, pray how may we conjecture these pretty 

 artists were supplied with materials, before the Europeans came ? 

 And then, how must we account for another observation that 

 birds never alter the original order of their materials for nests, 

 but the same instinct, in the choice of them prevails through the 

 whole species ? I should further be glad to know the name of the 

 cunning fabricator ; for, I take it, I had a piece or two of his opera- 

 tions before, which we much admired. 



The logs thou sent me, perforated by the species of bees, pro- 

 duced six bees in May and June very lively and brisk ; but the 

 clay wasp-nests, that thou sent me from time to time, none ever 

 produced any more than one wasp; the reason I cannot account 

 for. 



I am now, by thine and Colonel Custis's obliging disposition, 

 w T ell furnished with chimney swallow's nests, w^hich are deservedly 

 to be admired ; but now I want some eggs, to furnish my nests ; 

 and some humming-bird's eggs, for I have many nests of this 

 pretty creature. But they are so cunning in their contrivance, 

 that it is merely by chance when they are found. But if old or 

 young ones can be caught, pray send them. 



The substance thou sends me to guess, is, I conceive, belonging 

 to a Fungus. * * * * 



I am, in haste, 



Yery much thine, 



P. COLLINSON. 



London, February 3d, 1743-4. 



I wrote, my dear John, by the King of Prussia, under cover to 

 our friend Franklin. 



Now I shall give thee some account of the cargo. The old pro- 

 verb is, that there is no fence against a flail; so there is no securing 



