110 
NATURAL HISTORY 
up, became fo daring and ravenous, that they were a terror to all 
the dames in the village that had chickens or ducklings under 
their care. A boy climbed the tree, and found the young fo 
fledged that they all efcaped from him; but difcovered that a 
good houfe had been kept : the larder was well-ftored with 
provifions ; for he brought down a young blackbird, jay, and 
houfe-martin, all clean picked, and fome half devoured. The 
old birds had been obferved to make fad havock for fome days 
among the new -flown fwallows and martins, which, being but 
lately out of their nefts, had not acquired thofe powers and com- 
mand of wing that enable them, when more mature, to fet fuch 
enemies at defiance. 
LETTER XLIV, 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Selborne, Nov. 30, 17»©. 
Every incident that occafions a renewal of our correfpondence 
will ever be pleafmg and agreeable to me. 
As to the wild wood-pigeon, the oenas, or v'lnago, of Ray, I am 
much of your mind ; and fee no reafon for making it the origin of 
the common houfe-dove.: but fuppofe thofe that have advanced that 
opinion may have been mifled by another appellation, often given 
to the oenas, which is that of Jock-dove, 
Unlefs 
