OF SELBORNE 129 



of the supposititious egg ; but the brute creation, I sup- 

 pose, have very little idea of size, colour, or number. 

 For the common hen, I know, when the fury of incubation 

 is on her, will sit on a single shapeless stone instead of a 

 nest full of eggs that have been withdrawn : and, more- 

 over, a hen-turkey, in the same circumstances, would sit 

 on in the empty nest till she perished with hunger. 



I think the matter might easily be determined whether 

 a cuckoo lays one or two eggs, or more, in a season, by 

 opening a female during the laying-time. If more than 

 one was come down out of the ovary, and advanced to a 

 good size, doubtless then she would that spring lay more 

 than one. 



I will endeavour to get a hen, and to examine. 



Your supposition that there may be some natural 

 obstruction in singing-birds while they are mute, and 

 that when this is removed the song recorpmences is new 

 and bold ; I wish you could discover some good grounds 

 for this suspicion. 



I was glad you were pleased with my specimen of the 

 caprimulgus, or fern-owl ; you were, I find, acquainted 

 with the bird before. 



When we meet, I shall be glad to have some con- 

 versation with you concerning the proposal you make 

 of my drawing up an account of the animals in this 

 neighbourhood. Your partiality towards my small 

 abilities persuades you, I fear, that I am able to do more 

 than is in my power : for it is no small undertaking for a 

 man unsupported and alone to begin a natural history 

 from his own autopsia 1 Though there is endless room for 

 observation in the field of nature, which is boundless, 

 yet investigation (where a man endeavours to be sure of 

 his facts) can make but slow progress ; and all that one 

 could collect in many years would go into a very narrow 

 compass. 

 55— E 



