NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 113 



The eagle-owl, could it be proved to belong to us, is so 

 majestic a bird, that it would grace our fauna much. I never 

 was informed before where wild-geese are known to breed. 



You admit, I find, that I have proved your fen-salicaria 

 to be the lesser reed-sparrow of Ray : and I think you may 

 be secure that I am right ; for I took very particular pains 

 to clear up that matter, and had some fair specimens ; but, 

 as they were not well preserved, they are decayed already. 

 You will, no doubt, insert it in its proper place in your next 

 edition. Your additional plates will much improve your 

 work. 



De Buff on, I know, has described the water shrew-mouse :* 

 but still I am pleased to find you have discovered it in 

 Lincolnshire, for the reason I have given in the article of the 

 white hare. 



As a neighbour was lately ploughing in a dry chalky 

 field, far removed from any water, he turned out a water-rat, 

 that was curiously lain up in an hybernaculum artificially 

 formed of grass and leaves. At one end of the burrow lay 

 above a gallon of potatoes regularly stowed, on which it 

 was to have supported itself for the winter. But the 

 difficulty with me is how this amphibius mus came to fix it's 

 winter station at such a distance from the water. Was it 

 determined in it's choice of that place by the mere accident 

 of finding the potatoes which were planted there ; or is it 



the tips of the ears, which are permanently black. On the return of spring the 

 white fur comes off, and is replaced by its grey summer coat. As it seldom, if 

 ever, changes its colour in Ireland, it was supposed that the Irish Hare was a 

 distinct species ; and it was described as such by Mr. Yarrell, with the name of 

 Lefus hibernicus. There is, however, no structural difference to warrant such a 

 distinction, and the persistence of its ordinary colour throughout the winter must 

 doubtless be attributed to the milder climate of Ireland. (Bell, ed. " Selbome," 

 vol. i. p. 76 note.) [R. B. S.] 



1 The following interesting footnote occurs in Professor Bell's edition of 

 " Selborne" (vol. i. p. 76 note} : " Some years since I observed the water-shrew 

 ( Crossopus fodiens) in the stream which passes in front of the Grange Farm in 

 Selborne. It was hunting at the bottom of the water among the aquatic plants for 

 insects, and was so flattened that the white of the belly was conspicuous as a narrow 

 margin on each side of the black back, forming a striking and pretty object. 

 I found also in my garden a specimen, recently killed, of the black-bellied variety, 

 formerly known as Sorex rcmifer. It was far from any water. . . ." [R. B. S.] 



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