WATER-RATS THE FALCO. 33 



to get more ; and will endeavour to put the matter 

 out of doubt whether it be a nondescript species or 

 not. 



I suspect much there may be two species of 

 water-rats. Ray says, and Linnaeus after him, that 

 the water-rat is web-footed behind . Now I have 

 discovered a rat on the banks of our little stream 

 that is not web-footed, and yet is an excellent 

 swimmer and diver : it answers exactly to the 

 mus amphibius, (See Syst. Nat.) which, he says, 

 " natat infossis et urinatur." I should be glad to 

 procure one " plantis palmatis." Linnaeus seems 

 to be in a puzzle about his mus amphibius, and to 

 doubt whether it differs from his mus terrestris ; 

 which, if it be, as he allows, the " mus agrestis 

 capite grandi brachyuros" of Ray, is widely dif- 

 ferent from the water-rat, both in size, make, 

 and manner of life. 



As to the falco, which I mentioned in town, 1 

 shall take the liberty to send it dow^n 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, 

 " qualem dices . . . antehac fuisse, tales cum sint 

 reliquiae !" 



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 exhibition 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. 



