12 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



granivorous tribe, have strong muscular gizzards, which, 

 like mills, grind, by the help of small gravels and pebbles, 

 what is swallowed. This proceeding of the cuckoo, of 

 dropping its eggs as it were by chance, is such a monstrous 

 outrage on maternal affection, one of the first great dictates 

 of nature ; and such a violence on instinct ; that, had it 

 only been related of a bird in the Brazils, or Peru, it would 

 never have merited our belief. But yet, should it farther 

 appear that this simple bird, when divested of that natural 

 crropryr) that seems to raise the kind in general above them- 

 selves, and inspire them with extraordinary degrees of 

 cunning and address, may be still endued with a more 

 enlarged faculty of discerning what species are suitable 

 and congenerous nursing-mothers for its disregarded eggs 

 and young, and may deposit them only under their care, 

 this would be adding wonder to wonder, and instancing, 

 in a fresh manner, that the methods of Providence are not 

 subjected to any mode or rule, but astonish us in new 

 lights, and in various and changeable appearances. 



What was said by a very ancient and sublime writer 

 concerning the defect of natural affection in the ostrich, 

 may be well applied to the bird we are talking of : 



" She is hardened against her young ones, as though they 

 were not hers : 



" Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he 

 imparted to her understanding" 1 



Query. Does each female cuckoo lay but one egg in a 

 season, or does she drop several in different nests according 

 as opportunity offers? [This matter might perhaps be 

 determined by opening a female in the time of laying, 

 and examining how many eggs were advancing towards 

 maturity. 



I am, with the greatest 



respect, your obliged and 



most humble servant, 



GIL : WHITE.] 



1 Job xxxix. 1 6, 17. 



