NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 185 



woods and to support themselves by mast ; the plan was 

 plausible, but something always interrupted the success ; 

 for though the birds were usually hatched, and sometimes 

 grew to half their size, yet none ever arrived at maturity. 

 I myself have seen these foundlings in their nest displaying 

 a strange ferocity of nature, so as scarcely to bear to be 

 looked at, and snapping with their bills by way of menace. 

 In short, they always died, perhaps for want of proper 

 sustenance : but the owner thought that by their fierce 

 and wild demeanour they frighted their foster-mothers, 

 and so were starved. 



Virgil, as a familiar occurrence, by way of simile, 

 describes a dove haunting the cavern of a rock in such 

 engaging numbers, that I cannot refrain from quoting the 

 passage : and John Dryden has rendered it so happily in 

 our language, that without further excuse I shall add his 

 translation also : 



" Qualis spelunca subitb commota Columba, 

 Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 

 Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 

 Dat tecto ingentem mox acre lapsa quieto, 

 Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas." 



" As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes, 

 Rous'd, in a fright her sounding wings she shakes ; 

 The cavern rings with clattering : out she flies, 

 And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies ; 

 At first she flutters : but at length she springs 

 To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings." 



I am, &c. 



2 A 



