SELBORNE 299 



and that since the invention of letters men had 

 recorded their observations. The increase in the 

 body of facts had thus been, on the whole, gradual 

 and continuous. Take the case of the cuckoo. 

 Aristotle, some two thousand years ago, had given 

 a fairly accurate account of its habits ; and yet in 

 very recent years, as I had informed him, new facts 

 relating to the procreant instincts of that singular 

 fowl had come to light. 



After a short interval of silence I would become 

 conscious of a change in him, as if a cloud had lifted 

 of a quiet smile on his, to my earthly eyes, invisible 

 countenance, and he would add : " No, no ; you have 

 yourself supplied me with a reason for questioning 

 your views ; your statement of them pardon me 

 for saying it struck me as somewhat rhapsodical. 

 I refer to your commendations of my humble history 

 of the Parish of Selborne. It is gratifying to me 

 to hear that this poor little book is still in such good 

 repute, and I have been even more pleased at that 

 idea of modern naturalists, so flattering to my 

 memory, of a pilgrimage to Selborne; but, if so 

 great a change has come over men's minds as you 

 appear to believe, and if they have put some new 

 interpretation on nature, it is certainly curious that 

 I should still have readers." 



