TO LORD WALSINGHAM AND DR. GUNTHER 101 



a good many just now. My brother-in-law, 

 who was up the river with a punt gun a few 

 days ago, saw two falcons, one of which put in 

 two ducks to a ditch close to him, and made 

 two fine stoops at some herons, bringing them 

 down to the water.' 



To Albert Gunther. 



' R.Y.S. " Zara," Brixham, S. Devon : July 7, 1873. 



1 1 have to thank you very much for your 

 interesting letter which I received a few days ago 

 at Southampton, where I am sorry to tell you I 

 was laid up on board this yacht for about three 

 weeks. I heard from Lilford a short time ago 

 that one of our neighbours, a clergyman rather 

 interested in natural history, had had a bat 

 (V. noctula) brought to him alive, which the 

 bearer assured him he had seen struck down by 

 a hawk : I have no reason to doubt the story 

 and suppose it was probably a hobby, possibly 

 a kestrel ; it was between 8 and 9 P.M., and 

 I know the former species flies late. We have 

 beautiful weather, and enjoy our sea life very 

 much. Is there any possibility of your paying 



