THE CUCKOO. Ill 



related of a bird in the Brazils or Peru, it would 

 never have merited our belief. But yet, should it 

 farther appear that this simple bird, when divested 

 of that natural ffropyrj that seems to raise the kind in 

 general above themselves, and inspire them with ex- 

 traordinary degrees of cunning and address, may be 

 still endued with a more enlarged faculty of discern- 

 ing what species are suitable and congenerous nursing 

 mothers for its disregarded eggs and young, and may 

 deposit them only under their care, this would be 

 adding wonder to wonder, and instancing, in a fresh 

 manner, that the methods of Providence are not sub- 

 jected to any mode or rule, but astonish us in new 

 lights, and in various and changeable appearances. 



What was said by a very ancient and sublime 

 writer concerning the defect of natural affection in 

 the ostrich, may be well applied to the bird we are 

 talking of : 



" She is hardened against her young ones, as though 

 they were not hers : 



" Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, nei- 

 ther hath he imparted to her understanding."* 



Query. Does each female cuckoo lay but one egg 

 in a season, or does she drop several in different 

 nests, according as opportunity offers ? 



LETTER XXXI. 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 



SELBORNE, Feb. 22, 1770. 

 DEAR SIR, 



HEDGE-HOGS* abound in my gardens and fields. 



* Jobxxxix. 16, 17. 



f The hedge-hog feeds indiscriminately on flesh and vegeta- 



