OP SELBORNE. l65 



LETTER XXXIX. 



TO THE SAME. 



DEAR SIR; Selborne, Nov. 9, 1773. 



As you desire me to send you such obser- 

 vations as may occur, I take the liberty of 

 making the following remarks, that you 

 may, according as you think me right or 

 wrong, admit or reject what I here advance, 

 in your intended new edition of the British 

 Zoology. 



The osprey* was shot about a year ago 

 at Frinsham-pond, a great lake, at about six 

 miles from hence, while it was sitting on 

 the handle of a plough and devouring a 

 fish : it used to precipitate itself into the 

 water, and so take its prey by surprise. 



A great ash-coulouredt butcher-bird was 

 shot last winter in Tisted-park, and a red- 



* British Zoology, vol. i. p. 128. t P. l6l. 



