OF SELBORNE. 35 



means peculiar to them, I cannot pass over in silence ; 

 and that is, that instinct by which in summer all the 

 kine, whether oxen, cows, calves, or heifers, retire con- 

 stantly to the water during the hotter hours ; where, 

 being more exempt from flies, and inhaling the coolness 

 of that element, some belly deep, and some only to mid- 

 leg, they ruminate and solace themselves from about 

 ten in the morning till four in the afternoon, and then 

 return to their feeding. During this great proportion 

 of the day they drop much dung, in which insects 

 nestle ; and so supply food for the fish, which would be 

 poorly subsisted but from this contingency. Thus Na- 

 ture, who is a great economist, converts the recreation 

 of one animal to the support of another! Thomson, 

 who was a nice observer of natural occurrences, did 

 not let this pleasing circumstance escape him. He 

 says, in his Summer, 



" A various group the herds and flocks compose : 



on the grassy bank 



Some ruminating lie ; while others stand 

 Half in the flood, and often bending, sip 

 The circling surface." 



Wolmer-pond, so called, I suppose, for eminence sake, 

 is a vast lake for this part of the world, containing, in 

 its whole circumference, two thousand six hundred and 

 forty-six yards, or very near a mile and a half. The 

 length of the north-west and opposite side is about 

 seven hundred and four yards, and the breadth of the 

 south-west end about four hundred and fifty-six yards. 

 This measurement, which I caused to be made with 

 good exactness, gives an area of about sixty-six acres 

 exclusive of a large irregular arm at the north-east 

 corner, which we did not take into the reckoning. 



On the face of this expanse of waters, and perfectly 

 secure from fowlers, lie all day long, in the winter sea- 

 son, vast flocks of ducks, teals, and widgeons, of various 

 denominations ; where they preen and solace and rest 



D2 



