OF SELBOENE. 77 



twig, with, its head lower than its tail, in an attitude well 

 expressed by your draughtsman in the folio British Zoology. 

 This bird is most punctual in beginning its song exactly at 

 the close of day ; so exactly that I have known it strike up 

 more than once or twice just at the report of the Ports- 

 mouth evening gun, which we can hear when the weather 

 is still. 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 neigh- 

 bours were assembled in an hermitage on the side of a 

 steep hill where we drink tea, 1 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 some- 

 times 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 the 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 silk- worm." 



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. 



1 A vignette of this hermitage appears on the title-page. ED. 



