Now as it appears that this bird, which is so well 

 known to practise incubation, is formed in a similar 

 manner with cuckoos, Monsieur Herissant's conjec- 

 ture, that cuckoos are incapable of incubation from 

 the disposition of their intestines, seems to fall to 

 the ground : and we are still at a loss for the cause 

 of that strange and singular peculiarity in the in- 

 stance of the Cuciilus canorus. 



We found the case to be the same with the ring- 

 tail hawk, in respect to formation ; and, as far as I 

 can recollect, with the swift ; and probably it is so 

 with many more sorts of birds that are not graniv- 

 orous. 



Selborne, April i, 1776. 



LETTER LXXIII. 

 To THE Honourable Daines Barrington. 



On August the 4th, 1775, we surprised a large 

 viper, which Seemed very heavy and bloated, as it 

 lay in the grass basking in the sun. When we came 

 to cut it up, we found that the abdomen was crowded 

 with young, fifteen in number ; the shortest of which 

 measured full seven inches, and were about the size 

 of full-grown earthworms. This little fry issued into 

 the world with the true viper spirit about them, 



showing great alertness as soon as disengaged from 



72 



