The Natural History of Selborne 95 



hope, when I assure you that, as my neighbours were as- 

 sembled 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 nondescript; 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. 



