232 THE NATURAL HISTORY [LETT. 



sometimes in the gaiety of their hearts to sing, but with no 

 great success ; the parrot-kind may 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 

 daybreak, serenades his mate with the clattering of castanets. 

 All the tuneful passcrcs 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 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 

 their infinite variety the notes of the feathered nation. I shall 

 therefore confine the remainder of this letter to the few domestic 

 fowls of our yards which are most known, and therefore best 

 understood. And first the peacock, with his gorgeous train, 

 demands our attention ; but, like most of the gaudy birds, his 

 notes are grating and shocking to the ear : the yelling of cats, 

 and the braying of an ass, are not more disgustful. The voice 

 of the goose is trumpet-like, and clanking ; and once saved the 

 Capitol at Rome, as grave historians assert; the hiss also of 

 the gander is formidable and full of menace, and " protective of 

 his young." Among ducks the sexual distinction of voice is 

 remarkable ; for, while the quack of the female is loud and 

 sonorous, the voice of the drake is inward and harsh, and feeble, 

 and scarce discernible. The cock turkey struts and gobbles to 

 his mistress in a most uncouth manner ; he hath also a pert and 

 petulant note when he attacks his adversary. When a hen 

 turkey leads forth her young brood she keeps a watchful eye ; 

 and if a bird of prey appear, though ever so high in the air, the 

 careful mother announces the enemy with a little inward moan, 

 and watches him with a steady and attentive look ; but, if he 



