308 NATURAL HISTORY 
had a jagged process near the end of the upper 
mandible on each side; its tail or train was short 
in proportion to the bulk of its body, yet the wings, 
when closed, did not extend to the end of the train. 
From its large and fair proportions, it might be 
supposed to have been a female; but I was not 
permitted to cut open the specimen. For one of 
the birds of prey, which are usually lean, this was 
in high case: in its craw were many barley-corns, 
which probably came from the crop of the wood- 
pigeon on which it was feeding when shot; for 
voracious birds do not eat grain; but, when devour- 
ing their quarry, with undistinguishing vehemence, 
swallow bones and feathers, and all matters indis- 
criminately. This falcon was probably driven 
from the mountains of North Wales or Scotland, 
where they are known to build, by rigorous weath- 
er and deep snows that had lately fallen. 
LETTER LIV. 
My near neighbour, a young gentleman in the 
service of the East India Company, has brought 
home a dog and a bitch of the Chinese breed from 
Canton, such as are fattened in that country for the 
purpose of being eaten: they are about the size of 
a moderate spaniel, of a pale yellow colour, with 
coarse bristling hair on their backs, sharp upright 
ears, and peaked heads, which give them a very 
fox-like appearance. Their hind legs are unusual- 
ly straight, without any bend at the hock or ham, 
to such a degree as to give them an awkward gait 
