1776 SEXUALITY OF MOSSES 313 



that neither the Foundling Hospital, nor any of the Lying-in 

 Hospitals shall administer, but the next of kin. 



All our chalk-barley was greatly damaged : we have none 

 good but from the sands, where their harvest was earlier. 

 The former sells for about 20s. and the latter for about 26s. 

 Farther west, where they have nothing but chalk-downs, 

 all their barley was pretty well spoiled; so that Harry 

 complains he cannot, as yet, get any price at all for his 

 crop. 



What pigeons in a state of nature may do I cannot 

 pretend to say ; but this I know, that tame pigeons, which 

 are pampered by high feeding, and lie perhaps under more 

 frequent temptations from living together in crouds, are 

 apt to forget the rules of strict chastity, and follow too 

 often the example of people in high life. As to the smaller 

 birds, it would be very difficult to ascertain the identity of 

 the man and wife in different years. 



Yours affect., 



Gil. White. 



I thank you for this hint; and shall always be glad of 

 more. 



To Samuel Barker. 



[On the same sheet as the above.] 



Dear Sam, — You may comfort yourself that you are not 

 the only person that finds himself under difficulties respect- 

 ing the sexuality of mosses. For Mr. Curtis is by no means 

 satisfy ed concerning the distinctions made use of; but 

 suspects very much that there are not the same obvious 

 distinctions in them which in the more common plants so 

 rationally support the Linnsean system. He is a very 

 friendly man, and always willing to communicate; and 

 has therefore desired me to send you down the enclosed 

 plate containing representations of the fructification, &c. of 

 his mosses, such as he uses in his own lectures on the 



