194 
NATURAL HISTORY 
gate, or ftlle, till fhe returns to the cows, who, with fierce lowing? 
and menacing horns, drive the aflailants quite out of the pafturc. 
Even great difparity of kind and fize does not always prevent 
focial advances and mutual fellowfliip. For a very intelligent 
and obfervant perfon has aflured me that, in the former part of 
his life, keeping but one horfe, he happened alfo on a time to 
have but one foUtary hen. Thefe two incongruous animals fpent 
much of their time together in a lonely orchard, where they faw 
no creature but each other. By degrees an apparent regard 
began to take place between thefe two fequeftered individuals. 
The fowl would approach the quadruped with notes of com- 
placency, rubbing herfelf gently againft his legs : while the horfe 
would look down with fatisfadlion, and move with the greatefb 
caution and circumfpeftion, left he fliould trample on his dimu- 
nitive companion. Thus, by mutual good offices, each feemed 
to confole the vacant hours of the other : fo that Milton, when 
he puts the following fentiment in the mouth of Adam, feems to 
be fomewhat miftaken : 
" Much lefs can birdv/'i\h heajl, or fifli with fowl, 
*' So well converfe, nor with the ox the ape." 
I am, Sec. 
LETTER 
