NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 31 



agrestis capite grandi brachyuros? * of Ray, is widely different from 

 the water-rat, both in size, make, and manner of life. 



WATER-RAT. 



As to the/rt/^7, which I mentioned in town, I shall take the 

 liberty to send it down to you into Wales ; presuming, on your 

 candour, that you will excuse me if it should appear as familiar to 

 you as it is strange to me. Though mutilated " qtialem dices . . . 

 antehac fuisse, tales cum sint reliquice ! " 



It haunted a marshy piece of ground in quest of wild-ducks and 

 snipes ; but, when it was shot, had just knocked down a rook, which 

 it was tearing in pieces. I cannot make it answer to any of our 

 English hawks ; neither could I find any like it at the curious exhi- 

 bition of stuffed birds in Spring Gardens. I found it nailed up at 

 the end of a barn, which is the countryman's museum. 



The parish I live in is a very abrupt, uneven country, full of hills 

 and woods, and therefore full of birds. 



Th T R the ; short - l ^ d field-mouse, or field-vole, Aruicola agrestis of Fleming and Ball. 

 of NamTal H^ory," e vorvii; aS * dlstinctions of the Briti > h ****** & "Annals 



