30 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



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 of Linnaeus (see Syst. Nat.) which he says " natat 

 in fossis et urinatur" I should be glad to procure one 

 ^^ plantis palmatis.^' Linnseus 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 brachyurus^^ of Ray, is widely 

 different from the water-rat, both in size, make, and manner 

 of life. 



As to the falco, 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 ^^ qualem 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 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. 



