98 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
an half ; and four inches and an half from the nose to the tip of the 
tail; their heads were large, their nostrils bilobated, their shoulders 
broad and muscular; and their whole bodies fleshy and plump. 
Nothing could be more sleek and soft than their fur, which was of 
a bright chesnut colour; their maws were full of food, but so 
macerated that the quality could not be distinguished; their livers, 
kidneys, and hearts, were large, and their bowels covered with fat. 
They weighed each, when entire, full one ounce and one drachm. 
Within the ear there was somewhat of. a peculiar structure that I did 
not understand perfectly; but refer it to the observation of the 
curious anatomist. These creatures sent forth a very rancid and 
offensive smell. 
LE? Ti XxX XW ie. 
TO THE SAME. 
SELBORNE, 1771. 
DEAR S1R,—On the twelfth of July I had a fair opportunity of 
contemplating the motions of the caprimulgus, or fern-owl, as it 
was playing round a large oak that swarmed with scaradbe@z solstt- 
tzales, or fern-chafers. The powers of its wing were wonderful, 
exceeding, if possible, the various evolutions and quick turns of the 
swallow genus. But the circumstance that pleased me most was, 
that I saw it distinctly, more than once, put out its short leg while 
on the wing, and, by a bend of the head, deliver somewhat into its 
mouth. If it takes any part of its prey with its foot, as I have now 
the greatest reason to suppose it does these chafers, I no longer 
wonder at the use of its middle toe, which is curiously furnished 
with a serrated claw. 
Swallows and martins, the bulk of them I mean, have forsaken 
us sooner this year than usual ; for on September the twenty-second 
they rendezvoused in a neighbour’s walnut-tree, where it seemed 
probable they had taken up their lodging for the night. At the 
dawn of the day, which was foggy, they arose all together in infinite 
numbers, occasioning such a rushing from the strokes of their 
wings against the hazy air, as might be heard to a considerable 
distance : since that no flock has appeared, only a few stragglers. 
