NA TURAL HISTOR Y OF SELBORNE. 129 



When birds come to suffer by severe frost, I find that the first 

 that fail and die are the redwing-fieldfares, and then the song- 

 thrushes. 



You wonder, with good reason, that the hedge-sparrows, &c., can 

 be induced at all to sit on the egg of the cuckoo without being 

 scandalized at the vast disproportionate size .of the supposititious 

 egg ;* but the brute creation, I suppose, have very little idea of 

 size, colour, or number. For the common hen, I know, when the 

 fury of incubation is on her, will sit on a single shapeless stone 

 instead of a nest full of eggs that have been withdrawn : and, 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.f 



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 removed 

 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- 

 mulgus, 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 

 account 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 



* By a wise provision, and to prevent the very circumstance which Mr. White here 



1781, "On the prevailing notions in regard to the Cuckoo," in which he quotes a letter 

 from Mr. White (Letter XXIV.). Barrington had imbibed some very erroneous notions 

 himself, and combats the idea that the small birds, such as hedge-sparrows, &c., could 

 hatch a cuckoo ; and also tries to produce evidence that the cuckoo is not a parasitic 

 breeder. Professor Owen has remarked, " I am not aware that more than one ovum is 

 ever contained in the oviduct at one time, in any bird." There is no reason for believing 

 that the cuckoo does not, as other birds, deposit a certain number of eggs each season : so 

 far as we know, there is nothing peculiar in its structure referrible to this, and its residence 

 in the breeding localities is protracted much beyond the time required to deposit a single 

 egg- 



