28 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



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 

 reliquiae !^^ 



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. 



LETTER XI 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE 



Selborne, September 9, 1767. 



It wiU not be without impatience that I shall wait for 

 your thoughts with regard to the falco ; as to its weight, 

 breadth, etc. I wish I had set them down at the time : 

 but, to the best of my remembrance, it weighed two 

 pounds and eight ounces, and measured, from wing to 

 wing, thirty-eight inches. Its cere and feet were yellow, 

 and the circle of its eyelids a bright yellow. As it had 

 been killed some days, and the eyes were sunk, I could 

 make no good observation on the colour of the pupils and 

 the irides. 



