of Selborne 205 



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 wood-pecker 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 attention 

 of the other hinmdmes, and bids them be aware that the 

 hawk is at hand. Aquatic and gregarious birds, especialy 

 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, w^hich are most 

 known, and therefore best understood. At 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 



