OF SEL BORNE. 
6i 
and Huntingdonjh'ire, and the fens of Lincohijhire , I was amazed at 
the number of fpires which prefcnted themfelves in every point of 
view. As an admirer of profpefts, I have reafon to lament this 
want in my own country; for fuch objefts are very necelTary 
ingredients in an elegant landfcape. 
What you mention with refped to reclaimed toads raifes my 
curiofity. An ancient author, though no naturalift:, has well re- 
marked that Every kind of beqfts, and of birds, and of ferpents, and 
* * things in the fea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, of mankind'- T 
It is a fatisfaftion to me to find that a green lizard has aclually 
been procured for you in DevonfJjire ; becaufe it corroborates my 
difcovery, which I made many years ago, of the fame fort, on a 
funny fandbank near Farnham, in Surrey. 1 am well acquainted 
with the fouth hams of De-vonfJnre ; and can fuppofe that diflrid, 
from it's foutherly lituation, to be a proper habitation for fuch 
animals in their befl colours. 
Since the ring-oufels of your vaft mountains do certainly not 
forfake them againft winter, our fufpicions that thofe which, vifit 
this neighbourhood about Michaelmas are not Englifl: birds, but. 
driven from the more northern parts of Europe by the frofts, are 
ftill more reafonable; and it will be worth your pains to endeavour 
to trace from whence they come, and to inquire why they make fo. 
very fliort a ftay. 
In your account of your error with regard to the two fpecles of 
herons, you incidentally gave me great entertainment in your de- 
fcription of the heronry at CreJJi-hall ; which is a curiolity I never 
could manage to fee. Fourfcore nefts of fuch a bird on one 
tree is a rarity which I would ride half as many miles to have a 
= J antes t chap. iii. 7. 
iiglit 
