56 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



when the weather Is still. It appears to me past all doubt 

 that its notes are formed by organic impulse, by the powers 

 of the parts of its windpipe, formed for sound, just as cats 

 pur. You will credit me, I hope, when I tell you that, as 

 my neighbours were assembled in an hermitage on the side 

 of a steep hill where we drink tea, one of these churn-owls 

 came and settled on the cross of that little straw edifice and 

 began to chatter, and continued his note for many minutes: 

 and we were all struck with wonder to find that the organs 

 of that little animal, when put in motion, gave a sensible 

 vibration to the whole building ! This bird also sometimes 

 makes a small squeak, repeated four or five times ; and I 

 have observed that to happen when the cock has been 

 pursuing the hen in a toying way through the boughs of 

 a tree. 



It would not be at all strange if your bat, which you 

 have procured, should prove a new one, since five species 

 have been found in a neighbouring kingdom. The great 

 sort that I mentioned is certainly a non-descript : I saw 

 but one this summer, and that I had no opportunity of 

 taking. 



Your account of the Indian-grass was entertaining. I 

 am no angler myself; but inquiring of those that are, what 

 they supposed that part of their tackle to be made of ? 

 they replied " of the intestines of a silkworm." 



Though I must not pretend to great skill in entomology, 

 yet I cannot say that I am ignorant of that kind of know- 

 ledge : I may now and then, perhaps, be able to furnish 

 you with a little information. 



The vast rains ceased with us much about the same time 

 as with you, and since we have had delicate weather. Mr. 

 Barker, who has measured the rain for more than thirty 

 years, says, in a late letter, that more has fallen this year 

 than in any he ever attended to; though, from July 1763 

 to January 1764, more fell than in any seven months of 

 this year. 



