PASSERINE. FISSIROSTRES. 



it strike up more than once or twice, just at the 

 report of the Portsmouth evening gun. 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 purr. You 

 will credit me, I hope, when I assure you that, 

 as my neighbours were assembled in a hermitage 

 on the side of a steep hill, where we drank 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 

 manner through the boughs of a tree."* Again, 

 he observes, " On the twelfth of July, I had a 

 fair opportunity of contemplating the motions ot 

 the Caprimulgus, or Fern Owl, as it was playing 

 round a large oak that swarmed with 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 on 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 sup- 



* Nat. Hist. Selborne, Jenyns' Edit., p. 87. 



