CORRESPONDENCE OY RAY. 117 



If I might advise you in the history of hawks, it would 

 be very acceptable to have their managery and training, 

 which I find is done with much skill and faithfulness in 

 a certain late piece, called the ' Gentleman's Recreation/ 

 printed 74, where is the best account of hawks and 

 hawking that ever I met with. 



Again, in the history of small birds, some account of 

 the keeping and ordering of them in cages would please, 

 which also is very well done in a late book, entitled the 

 ' Epitome of the Art of Husbandry/ where you will 

 find a large and very accurate tract of singing-birds; 

 both done by experienced and judicious persons in that 



wa J- ^_ 



I shall hint to you the perusal of the late ' History of 

 the Island of Pero/ where is much said of the Puffin 

 [Fratercula arctica] and that tribe. 



Again, you will find a most accurate and very parti- 

 cular anatomy of an eagle, done by a good hand, viz. 

 Borrichius, in his ' Vindication of Chemistry/ against 

 Conringius, a late piece : I would you saw it, for I think 

 it worth the inserting into your history. 



If I meet with anything farther, I will give you notice 

 of it. 



The Curruca or Hedge Sparrow [Accentor modularity 

 which I have often seen, lays sea-green or pale blue eggs, 

 which, neatly emptied and wired, fair ladies wear at their 

 ears for pendants. 



One and the same Swallow [ffirundo rustica], I have 

 known, by the subtracting daily of her eggs, to have 

 layed nineteen successively, and then to have given 

 over. 



The Bunting [Emberixa miliaria] breaks not oats, but 

 shells or hulls them most dexterously, as I observe, having 

 of them by me at this present in cages. 



The Robin Redbreast [Erythaca rubicula\ will not touch 

 a hairy caterpillar, but will gladly take and eat any sort 

 of smooth one that I have given to him ; and there is no 

 better way speedily to tame and make wild birds sing, 



