274 We Natural History of Selborne 



Now as it appears that this bird, which is so well known to practise 

 incubation, isformed in a similar manner with cuckoos Monsieur 

 Herissant's conjecture, that cuckoos are incapable of incubation from 

 the disposition of their intestines, seems to fall to the ground; and 

 we are still at a loss for the cause of that strange and singular pecu- 

 liarity in the instance of the cuculus canorus 



We found the case to be the same with the ring-tail hawk in 

 respect to formation; and, as far as 1 can recollect with the swift; 

 and probably it is so with many more sorts of birds that are not 

 granivorous. J *> &C ' 



