L E T T E R XLIII.
TO THE SAME.
D E A R S IR , S k i b o r n e , Sept. 9, 1778.
F rom the motion of birds, the tranfition is natural enough to
their notes and language, of which I ihall fay fomething. Not
that I would pretend to underhand their language like the vizier;
who, by the recital of a converfation which palled between two
owls, reclaimed a fultan, * before delighting in conqueft and de-
vaftation; but I would be thought only to mean that many of
the winded tribes have various founds and voices adapted to ex-
prefs their various paflions, wants, and feelings ; fuch as anger,
fear, love, hatred, hunger, and the like. AH fpecies are not
equally eloquent; fome are copious and fluent as it were in
their utterance, while others are confined to 'a ’few important
founds : no bird, like the filh kind, is quite mute, though fome
are rather filerit. The language of birds is very ancient, and, like
^ other ancient modes of fpeech, very elliptical; little is faid, but
much is meant and underftood.
The notes of the eagle-kind are (brill and piercing; and about
the feafon of nidification much diverlified, as I have been often
affured by a curious obferver of Nature, who long redded' at
Gibraltar, where eagles abound. The notes of our hawks much
refemble thofe of the king of birds. Owls have very expreflive
notes; they hoot in a fine vocal found, much refembling the vox
* See Spectator, Vol, VII, N°. 51a.
humana
humana, and reducible by a pitch-pipe to a mulical key. This
note feems to exprefs complacency and rivalry among the males:
they ufe alfo a quick call and an horrible fcream; and can
fnore and hifs when they mean to menace. Ravens, befides then-
loud croak, can exert a deep and folemn note that makes the
woods to echo; the amorous found of a crow is flrarige and
ridiculous; rooks, in the breeding (eafon, attempt fometimes in the
gaiety of their hearts to fing, but with no great fuceefs ; the
parrot-kind have many modulations of voice, as appears by their
aptitude to learn human founds; doves coo in an amorous and
mournful manner, and are emblems of defpairing lovers; the
woodpecker fets up a fort of loud and hearty laugh ; the 'fern-owl,
or goat-fucker, from the dulk till day-break, ferenade,s his mate
with the clattering o f caftanets. All the tuneful pciffres exprefs
their complacency by fweet modulations, and a variety of melody.
The fwatlow, as has been obferved in a former letter, by
a fhrill alarm befpeaks the attention of the other hirundines, and
bids them be aware that the hawk is at hand. Aquatic and gregarious
birds, efpecially the nofturnal, that fhift their quarters in
the dark, are very noify and loquacious; as cranes, wild-geefe,
wild-ducks, and the like : their perpetual clamour prevents them
from difperfing and lofing their companions.
In fo extenfive a fubjedt, (ketches and outlines are as much as
can be expe&ed; for it would be endlefs to inftance in all the
infinite variety of the feathered nation. We Ihall therefore confine
the remainder of this letter to the few domeftic fowls of our yards,
which are moft known, and therefore bell underftood. And firft
the peacock, with his gorgeous train, demands our attention ; but,
like moft of the gaudy birds, his notes are grating and (hocking
to the ear: the yelling of cats, and the braying of an afs, are not
I i more