32 THE NATURAL HISTORY [LETT. 



touching the ground, but returning still to the same stand for 

 many times together. 



I perceive there are more than one species of the Motacillu 

 which visits us. Mr. Derham supposes, in Eay's " Philos. 

 Letters," that he has discovered three. In these there is again 

 an instance of some very common birds that have as yet no 

 English name. 



Mr. Stillingfleet makes a question whether the blackcap 

 (Motacilla atricapilla) be a bird of passage or not : I think there 

 is no doubt of it : for, in April, in the first fine weather, they 

 come trooping, all at once, into these parts, but are never seen 

 in the winter. They are delicate songsters. 



Numbers of snipes breed every summer in some moory ground 

 on the verge of this parish. It is very amusing to see the cock 

 bird on wing at tkat time, and to hear his piping and humming 

 notes. 



I have had no opportunity yet of procuring any of those mice 

 which I mentioned to you in town. The person that brought 

 me the last says they are plentiful in harvest, at which tiuie I 

 will take care to get more ; and will endeavour to put it out of 

 doubt whether it be a nondescript species or not. 



I suspect much there may be two species of water-rats. Hay 

 says, and Linnreus after him, that the water-rat is web-footed 

 behind. Now I have discovered a rat on the banks of our little 

 stream that is not web-footed, and yet is an excellent swimmer 

 and diver : it answers exactly to the Mus ampliibius of Linnaeus, 

 which, he says, swims and dives in ditches, " natat in fossis et 

 urinatur." I should be glad to procure " one with the feet 

 feathering out like a palm," " plantis palmatis." Linnneus 

 seems to be in a puzzle about his Mus ampliibius, and to doubt 

 whether it differs from his Mus terrestris, which if it be, as he 

 allows, the " mus agrestis capite grandi brachyurus," a field- 

 mouse, with " a large head and a short tail," is widely 

 different from the water-rat, both in size, make, and mauner 

 of life. 



As to the /a/to, 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 



