NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 109 



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 tnenace. 

 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. 



Yirgil, 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 farther excuse I shall add 

 his translation also : 



"Qualis spelunca subito commota Columba, 

 Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 

 Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis, 

 Dat tecto ingentem mox aere 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 wingg." 



