OF SELBORNE. 267 
versified, as I have been often assured by a curious 
observer of Nature, who long resided at Gibraltar, 
where eagles abound. The notes of our hawks 
much resemble those of the king of birds. Owls 
have very expressive notes; they hoot in a fine 
vocal sound, much resembling the vor humana, and 
reducible by a pitch-pipe to a musical key. This 
note seems to express complacency and rivalry 
among the mates :*they use also a quick call anda 
horrible scream, and can snore and hiss when they 
mean to menace. Ravens, besides their loud croak, 
can exert a deep and solemn note that makes the 
woods to echo; the sound of a crow is strange and 
ridiculous ; rooks, in the hatching season, attempt 
sometimes, in the gayety of their hearts, to sing, 
but with no great success; the parrot kind have 
many modulations of voice, as appears by their 
aptitude to learn human sounds; doves coo in a 
mournful manner, and are emblems of despairing 
lovers; the woodpecker sets up a sort of loud and 
hearty laugh ; the fern-owl, or goat-sucker, from 
the dusk till daybreak, serenades his mate with the 
clattering of castanets. All the tuneful passeres 
express their complacency by sweet modulations 
and a variety of melody. The swallow, as has 
been observed in a former letter, by a shrill alarm, 
bespeaks the attention of the other Azrundines, and 
bids them be aware that the hawk is at hand. 
Aquatic and gregarious birds, especially the noc- 
turnal, that shift their quarters in the dark, are very 
noisy and loquacious; as cranes, wild geese, wild 
ducks, and the like; their perpetual clamour pre- 
vents them from dispersing and losing their com- 
panions. 
