92 NATURAL HISTORY 



amines every wicket and interstice in the 

 fences, through which he will escape if 

 possible ; and often has eluded the care of 

 the gardener, and wandered to some distant 

 field. The motives that impel him to un- 

 dertake these rambles seem to be of the 

 amorous kind : his fancy then becomes in- 

 tent on sexual attachments, which trans- 

 port him beyond his usual gravity, and in- 

 duce him to forget for a time his x^rdinary 

 solemn deportment. 



LETTER LI. 



TO THE SAME. 



Selborne, Sept. 3, 1781. 



I HAVE now read your miscellanies through 

 with much care and satisfaction ; and am 

 to return you my best thanks for the 

 honourable mention made in them of me as 

 a naturalist, which I wish I may deserve. 

 In some former letters I expressed my 



