of vSelborne 67 



sidering the matter, I begin to suspect that these are some 

 stragglers of the birds we are talking of, which sometimes 

 perhaps may rove so far to the southward. 



It pleases me to find tliat wliite hares are so frequent 

 on tlie Scottish mountains, and especially as you inform 

 me that it is a distinct species ; for the quadrupeds of 

 Britain are so few, that every new species is a great 

 acquisition. 



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 jRnd, that I have proved your fen salicaria 

 to be the lesser reed-sparrow of Ray ; and I think that 

 you may be secure that I am right ; for I took very par- 

 ticular 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 Buffon, 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 on 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 laid up in an hyhernaculum arti- 

 ficially 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 aviphihins mus 

 came to fix its winter station at such a distance from the 

 water. Was it determined in its choice of that place by 

 the mere accident of finding the potatoes which were 

 planted there ; or is it the constant practice of the aquatic- 

 rat to forsake the neighbourhood of the water in the 

 colder months? 



Though I delight very little in analogous reasoning, 

 knowing how fallacious it is with respect to natural his- 

 tory ; yet, in the following instance, I cannot help being 



