OF SELBOBNE. 
77 
twig, witli its liead 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,^ 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. 
^ A vignette of this hermitage appears on the title-page. — Ed. 
