266 LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. 



semble those of the king of birds. Owls have very 

 expressive notes ; they hoot in a fine vocal sound, 

 much resembling the vox humana, and reducible by 

 a pitch-pipe to a musical key. This note seems to 

 express complacency and rivalry among the males ; 

 they use also a quick call and an horrible scream ; 

 and can snore and hiss when they mean tq menace. 

 Ravens, besides their loud croak, can exert a deep 

 and solemn note that makes the woods to echo ; the 

 amorous sound of a crow is strange and ridiculous ; 

 rooks, in the breeding season, attempt sometimes, in 

 the gaiety 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 an amorous and 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 day- 

 break, 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 atten- 

 tion of the other hirundines, and bids them be aware 

 that the hawk is at hand. Aquatic and gregarious 

 birds, especially the nocturnal, that shift their quarters 

 in the dark, are very noisy and loquacious ; as cranes, 

 wild-geese, wild-ducks, and the like ; their perpetual 

 clamour prevents them from dispersing and losing 

 their companions. 



In so extensive a subject, sketches and outlines are 

 as much as can be expected : for it would be endless 

 to instance in all the infinite variety of the feathered 

 nation. We shall, therefore, confine the remainder 

 of this letter to the few domestic fowls of our yards, 

 which are most known, and, therefore, best under- 

 stood. And first, the peacock, with his gorgeous 



