50 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



may call them, being the country people that make use 

 of it have fire-hearths, made on purpose for that fuel, that 

 have holes under them, which are pierced through the 

 foundation of their houses ; whence an unmannerly pro- 

 verb is used among them, " Neighbour, is the wind in 

 your hole this morning?" That is, have you the conve- 

 niency of keeping in fire to-day ; else it grimes not, is 

 light, and many pieces if rubbed will draw straws : if I 

 have an opportunity I will send you of the one and of 

 the other, and also the legs of the Buzzard [Buteo vul- 

 garis] , for that is all I have of it by me ; but upon com- 

 paring them with the Kite [Milvus vulgaris], the Bald 

 Buzzard,* and Wood Buzzard, f you will find them ex- 

 ceedingly different : but Mr. Willughby did almost per- 

 suade me it was the Milvus ceruginosus, Aldr. ; j for, 

 indeed, it is of a self colour, that is, all over of one rusty 

 colour, just like the rust of iron, as you may guess by 

 what feathers yet stick to the knees. You will be pleased, 

 at your best leisure, to send me an account of the authors 

 that have written on minerals and fossils, for I am, as I 

 said, but a beginner, in this part of natural history, and 

 I have great encouragement, besides my profession, not 

 to be ignorant in this part especially, having great hopes 

 of considerable mines in my own lordship in Craven ; 

 therefore I would furnish myself with the best authors. 



I had written almost hitherto when Mr. Willughby's 

 keeper brought me the happy piece I so long desired to 

 see ; I read it over forthwith greedily, and am extremely 

 pleased that you have added the particular uses to the 

 titles. I have no additions to make you an offer of, only 

 I read it not without pen, ink, and paper by me, on which 

 I now and then scrawled something, and have taken the 

 boldness to send it you. 



Mr. Willughby was, as it were, desirous to know some- 



* [A name for the Osprey, Pandion TiaU<zetusI\ 

 f [Which of the three.] 



\ [Milvus seruginosus of Aldr. is a Harrier, and now called the Marsh 

 Harrier, Circus (eruginosus.~\ 



