112 The Natural History 



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 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 

 capriniul^iis^ or fern-owl ; you were, I find, acquainted 

 with the bird before. 



"When we meet, I shall be glad to have some con- 

 versation 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 autopsia ! 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," eic, have fallen in my way; and gave me great 

 satisfaction : they have removed the objections that 

 always rose in my mind whenever 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 

 severity of weather pretty frequently occurred ! 



P.S. Swallows appear amidst snows and frost. 



