152 WOODCOCKS BATS. 



but by the active and inquisitive, and by those that 

 reside much in the country. 



Foreign systematists are, I observe, much too 

 vague in their specific differences; which are almost 

 universally constituted by one or two particular 

 marks, the rest of the description running in general 

 terms. But our countryman, the excellent Mr. Ray, 

 is the only describer that conveys some precise idea 

 in every term or word, maintaining his superiority 

 over his followers and imitators, in spite of the 

 advantage of fresh discoveries and modern in- 

 formation. 



At this distance of years, it is not in my power 

 to recollect at what periods woodcocks used to be 

 sluggish or alert, when I was a sportsman ; but, upon 

 my mentioning this circumstance to a friend, he 

 thinks he has observed them to be remarkably listless 

 against snowy, foul weather ; if this should be the 

 case, then the inaptitude for flying arises only from 

 an eagerness for food, as sheep are observed to be 

 very intent on grazing against stormy wet evenings. 



LETTER XLVI. 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQ. 



September, 1771- 

 DEAR SIR, 



THE summer through, I have seen but two of 

 that large species of bat which I call vespertilio 

 altivolans, from its manner of feeding high in the air. 

 I procured one of them, and found it to be a male, 

 and made no doubt, as they accompanied together, 

 that the other was a female ; but happening, in an 

 evening or two, to procure the other likewise, I was 



