130 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



drawn : and, moreover, a hen-turkey, in the same circumstances, 

 would sit on in the empty nest till she perished with hunger. 



I think the matter might easily be determined whether a 

 cuckoo lays one or two eggs, or more, in a season, by opening a 

 female during the laying-time. If more than one was come down 

 out of the ovary, and advanced to a good size, doubtless then she 

 would that spring lay more than one. I will endeavour to get a 

 hen, and to examine. 



Your supposition that there may be some natural obstruction 

 in singing birds while they are mute, and that when this is re- 

 moved the song recommences, is new and bold ; I wish you could 

 discover some good grounds for this suspicion. 



I was glad you were pleased with my specimen of the capri- 

 mulguSy or fern-owl ; you were, I find, acquainted with the bird 

 before. 



When we meet, I shall be glad to have some conversation with 

 you concerning the proposal you make of my drawing up an ac- 

 count of the animals in this neighbourhood. Your partiality 

 towards my small abilities persuades you, I fear, that I am able 

 to do more than is in my power : for it is no small undertaking 

 for a man unsupported and alone to begin a natural history from 

 his own autopsia 1 Though there is endless room for observation 

 in the field of nature, which is boundless, yet investigation 

 (where a man endeavours to be sure of his facts) can make but 

 slow progress ; and all that one could collect in many years would 

 go into a very narrow compass. 



Some extracts from your ingenious " Investigations of the 

 difference between the present temperature of the air in Italy," 

 &c. have fallen in my way ; and gave me great satisfaction : they 

 have removed the objections that always arose in my mind when- 

 ever I came to the passages which you quote. Surely the judicious 

 Virgil, when writing a didactic poem for the region of Italy, 

 could never think of describing freezing rivers, unless such se- 

 verity of weather pretty frequently occurred ! 



P.S. Swallows appear amidst snows and frost. 



LETTER VI. To THE HON. DAINES HARRINGTON. 



DEAR SIR, Selborne, May 21, 1770. 



THE severity and turbulence of last month so interrupted the 

 regular progress of summer migration that some of the birds do 



