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. 



LETTER XXXVII. 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, 1771. 



DEAR SIR, 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 scarabtzi solsti- 

 tiales, 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 

 ori 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, ha\^ 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. 



