OF SELBORNE 181 



There was little room to suppose that this brood had 

 ever been in the open air before ; and that they were taken 

 in for refuge, at the mouth of the dam, when she perceived 

 that danger was approaching ; because then probably we 

 should have found them somewhere in the neck, and not 

 in the abdomen. 



LETTER XXXII 

 TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARRINGTON 



CASTRATION has a strange effect : it emasculates both man, 

 beast, and bird, and brings them to a near resemblance of 

 the other sex. Thus eunuchs have smooth unmuscular 

 arms, thighs and legs ; and broad hips, and beardless chins, 

 and squeaking voices. Celt-stags and bucks have hornless 

 heads, like hinds and does. Thus wethers have small 

 horns, like ewes; and oxen large bent horns, and hoarse 

 voices when they low, like cows: for bulls have short 

 straight horns ; and though they mutter and grumble in a 

 deep tremendous tone, yet they low in a shrill high key. 

 Capons have small combs and gills, and look pallid about 

 the head, like pullets ; they also walk without any parade, 

 and hover chickens like hens. Barrow-hogs have also small 

 tusks like sows. 



Thus far it is plain that the deprivation of masculine 

 vigour puts a stop to the growth of those parts or appen- 

 dages that are looked upon as its insignia. But the 

 ingenious Mr. Lisle, in his book on husbandry, carries it 

 much farther; for he says that the loss of those insignia 

 alone has sometimes a strange effect on the ability itself: 

 he had a boar so fierce and venereous, that, to prevent 

 mischief, orders were given for his tusks to be broken 

 off. No sooner had the beast suffered this injury than 

 his powers forsook him, and he neglected those females 

 to whom before he was passionately attached, and from 

 whom no fences could restrain him, 



