14 
The late Dr. Jenner 
is not at all probable that the shores of this country can be 
visible to the flock when they set out. 
Again. Is there not something as extraordinary in the 
pigeon, which can, in a few hours, find out its home, though 
taken away in a box and totally excluded from the light, to 
the distance of two hundred miles, as in that bird which quits 
one shore to seek another, whatever may be the extent of 
intervening seas ? The fact seems to be, that we, the little 
lords of the creation , are too prone to measure the sentient 
principle in animals by the scale of our own ideas, and thus, 
unwillingly, allow them to possess faculties which may sur- 
pass our own, though peculiarly appropriate to their respec- 
tive natures ; but a little reflection must compel us to confess, 
that they are endowed with discriminating powers totally 
unknown to, and for ever unattainable by man. I have no 
objection to admit the possibility that birds may be overtaken 
by the cold of winter, and thus be thrown into the situation 
of other animals which remain torpid at that season ; though 
I must own I never witnessed the fact, nor could I ever ob- 
tain evidence on the subject that was to me satisfactory : but 
as it has been often asserted, may I be allowed to suppose, 
that some deception might have been practised with the de- 
sign of misleading those to whom it might seem to have 
appeared obvious ? For far be it from me to insinuate that 
the subject has been wilfully misrepresented by those natu- 
ralists, who have stated it as a fact. Yet how careful should 
we be in the investigation of all subjects in natural history, 
which may captivate, by their apparent novelty ! 
If birds crept into holes and crevices to hibernate, would 
they not, like quadrupeds, creep out again in a languid state, 
