OF SELBORNE 67 



studied more than that of the caprimulgus (the goat- 

 sucker), as it is a wonderful and curious creature : but I 

 have always found that though sometimes it may chatter 

 as it flies, as I know it does, yet in general it utters its 

 jarring note sitting on a bough ; and I have for many an 

 half hour watched it as it sat with its under mandible 

 quivering, and particularly this summer. It perches 

 usually on a bare twig, with its head lower than its tail, in 

 an attitude well expressed by your draughtsman in the 

 foUo 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 Portsmouth 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 tell 

 you that, as my neighbours were assembled in an hermit- 

 age 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 1 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, 



