The owl and the conch make a strange grotesque appearance, and
are not the least curious specimens in that wonderful collection of
art and nature.*
(* Sir Ashton Lever's Museum.)
Thus is instinct in animals, taken the least out of its way, an
undistinguishing, limited faculty; and blind to every circumstance
that does not immediately respect self-preservation, or lead at once
to the propagation or support of their species.
I am,
With all respect, etc., etc.
Letter XIX
To The Honourable Daines Barrington
Selborne, Feb. 14, 1774.
Dear Sir,
I received your favour of the eighth, and am pleased to find that
you read my little history of the swallow with your usual candour:
nor was I less pleased to find that you made objections where you
saw reason.
As to the quotations, it is difficult to say precisely which species of
hirundo Virgil might intend in the lines in question, since the
ancients did not attend to specific differences like modern
naturalists: yet somewhat may be gathered, enough to incline me to
suppose that in the two passages quoted the poet had his eye on the
swallow.
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