134 CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



Mr. RAY to Dr. ROBINSON. 



SIR, I render you many thanks for the pains you 

 have taken in endeavouring to resolve and satisfy me as 

 to the query concerning the Macrense. The description 

 of Monsieur Graindorge is scarce sufficient to determine 

 to what genus it belongs, much less whether it be a 

 nondescript species. Those notes of having flat feet 

 (and those weak and unfit for marching on land), a small 

 flat back claw, or toe, small wings in proportion to the 

 bulk of its body, being all over black, argue it to belong 

 to the genus of Colymbi, or Douckers ; but what he adds 

 of the flatness of its bill, and its rising up with a high 

 eminency, and its various colours, agree not to the 

 Douckers, but rather to the Palmipedes tridactyla ; so 

 that I am still at a loss about it, but yet do now con- 

 jecture it to be of the Douckers tribe, because it comes 

 in the winter time, and breeds not here ; whereas the 

 Palmipedes tridactylcB come to us in summer, and breed 

 with us, none appearing in our seas all winter. But if it 

 be a Colymbus (as is now to me most likely), it is of a 

 middle size, and of the caudate kind ; for they only have 

 musculous stomachs, or gizzards, and are by extremity of 

 weather driven into our seas, and the mouths of great 

 rivers, in winter time. What he hath of the mobility of 

 the upper chap of its bill I believe to be a mistake. 

 From this description I can conclude negatively, that it 

 is not what I imagined it once to be, viz. the Puffin of 

 the Scillies and Isle of Man. An exact picture, or the 

 skin stuffed, when obtained, will at first sight inform us 

 to what tribe it appertains, and whether it be already 

 described or no. 



Monsieur Tournefort is a person I have no knowledge 

 of. When I was at' Paris, Monsieur Joncquet demon- 

 strated the plants in the King's Garden. Monsieur 

 Marchand and Dr. Magnole, of Montpellier, were the 

 most skilful herbarists I met with in France ; but it is 



