OF SELBORNK. 299 



does this bird deposit, in a good degree 

 of safety, her rude nest, consisting of fine 

 grasses and feathers, usually goose-feathers, 

 very inartificially laid together. 

 « Perseverance will accomplish any thing : 

 though at first one would be disinclined to 

 believe that this weak bird, with her soft 

 and tender bill and claws, should ever be 

 able to bore the stubborn sand-bank with- 

 out entirely disabling herself ; yet with 

 these feeble instruments have I seen a pair 

 of them make great dispatch : and could 

 remark how much they had scooped that 

 day by the fresh sand which ran down the 

 bank, and was of a different colour from 

 that which lay loose and bleached in the 

 sun. 



In what space of time these little artists 

 are able to mine and finish these cavities I 

 have never been able to discover, for rea- 

 sons given above ; but it would be a matter 

 worthy of observation, where it falls in the 

 way of any naturalist to make his remarks. 

 This I have often taken notice of, that se- 



