1773 INVITATION TO JOHN WHITE 223 



it in earnest, and not let the consideration of a long coach- 

 journey (which is not so formidable to either of you as to 

 some others) prevent the comfort and satisfaction I propose 

 from such an undertaking. When you write again I hope 

 to discover that you have considered this matter, and will be 

 so kind as to think of putting it into execution. 



Mr. Derham in his * Physico-theol.' incidentally mentions 

 D' Leigh's 'Natural History of Lancashire,' which perhaps 

 Mr. Lever has got, and you should see. — If I err about the 

 Mot. ficedula, I err in good company : for your bird is in- 

 disputably the bird that Linn, means by Mot. f. and yet 

 he all the while acknowledges that it has "mandibula 

 superior utrinque emarginata, et latere vibrissata," which are 

 the characteristics of a Miisicapa. In Edwards there are cuts 

 of the male and female. As to myself I can't help thinking 

 that your bird is of a plumper and shorter habit than the 

 cock coldfinch * with a white forehead : besides you sent 

 many like the cocks that had no white in their foreheads. 

 Mr. Shaw, I see, in the papers, is preferred : I am glad he 

 continues to send you new birds. The lark-like bird may 

 probably be as you say. 



As to beer I hop moderately at the making; perhaps 

 half pound to the bushel; and then put in more when it 

 has done working, perhaps half pound to the half hogshead : 

 scalding them in water, and putting them in when cold. 

 They will never sink if put in dry. I have now at tap 

 again excellent beer. — From August 9th to 14th inclusive 

 was most wonderfully hot. My thermometer on the 13th 

 was up to 78 J° ; on that day in the evening came a violent 

 thunderstorm which about London did great damage. Jack 

 and I were all that week at Mr. Mulso's at Meonstoke. In 

 the night between the 18th and 19th of August there was 



* For some reason which I have never been able to discover what is now 

 called the ' ' pied fly-catcher " (the bird here in question) was called coldfinch 

 —a name which seems to be now entirely abandoned. — A. N. 



