Virgil, 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 : — 



" Qualis spelunca subito commota Columba, 

 Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 

 Fertul in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 

 Dat tecto ingentem — mox aere lapsa quieto, 

 Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas." 

 (ViRG. JEn. V. 213-217.) 



" As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes, 

 Roused, 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 wings." 



(Dryden's Translation.) 

 Selborne, Nov. 30, 1780. 



LETTER XCV. 



To THE Honourable Daines Barrington. 



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 suspicions 



that many of the house-martins do not depart in the 



winter far from this village. I therefore determined 



147 



