46 NATURAL HISTORY 
stream that is not web-footed, and yet is an excel. 
lent swimmer and diver: it answers exactly to the 
mus amphibius (see Syst. Nat.), which, he says, 
“natat in fossis et urinatur.” I should be glad to 
procure one “ plantis palmatis.” Linnzeus seems 
to be in a puzzle about his mus amphibius, and to 
doubt whether it differs from his mus terrestris ; 
which if it be, as he allows, the “mus agrestis 
capite grandi brachyuros” of Ray is widely different 
from the water-rat, both in size, make, and manner 
of life. 
As to the falco which I mentioned in town, I 
shall take the liberty to send it down to you into 
Wales, presuming on your candour that you will 
excuse me if it should appear as familiar to you as 
it is strange to me. ‘Though mutilated, “ qualem 
dices .. . antehac fuisse, tales cum sint reliquie !” 
It haunted a marshy piece of ground in quest of 
wild ducks and snipes; but when it was shot had 
just knocked down a rook, which it was tearing in 
pieces. I cannot make it answer to any of our 
English hawks, neither could I find any like it at 
the curious exhibition of stuffed birds in Spring 
Gardens. I found it nailed up at the end of a barn, 
which is the countryman’s museum. 
The parish I live in is a very abrupt, uneven 
country, full of hills and woods, and therefore full 
of birds. 7 
