88 EAGLE-OWL WATER-RAT. 



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 l , 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 pro- 

 per 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 of the white hare 2 . 



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 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 its winter station at 

 such a distance from the water. Was it deter- 

 mined 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 



1 This is now admitted into the British Fauna, having 

 been killed at different times in various parts of Great Bri- 

 tain. W. J. 



2 Lepus variaUlis. W. J. 



