OF SELBORNE 127 



farther appear that this simple bird, when divested of 

 that natural aTopjrj that seems to raise the kind in general 

 above themselves, and inspire them with extraordinary 

 degrees of cunning and address, may be still endued 

 with a more enlarged faculty of discerning what species 

 are suitable and congenerous nursing-mothers for its disre- 

 garded eggs and young, and may deposit them only under 

 their care, this would be adding wonder to wonder, and 

 instancing in a fresh manner that the methods of Provi- 

 dence are not subjected to any mode or rule, but 

 astonish us in new lights, and in various and changeable 

 appearances. 



What was said by a very ancient and sublime writer 

 concerning the defect of natural affection in the ostrich, 

 may be well applied to the bird we are talking of : 



" She is hardened against her young ones, as though 

 they were not hers : 



" Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither 

 hath he imparted to her understanding." * 



Query. — Does each female cuckoo lay but one egg in 

 a season, or does she drop several in different nests 

 according as opportunity offers ? 



I am, etc. 



LETTER V 



Selborne, April 12, 1770. 

 Dear Sir, 

 I heard many birds of several species sing last year 

 after Midsummer ; enough to prove that the summer 

 solstice is not the period that puts a stop to the music of 



* Job xxxix. 16, 17. 



