CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 285 



you say, " Quod non verisimile videtur quodvis animal 

 a natura ita factum esse, ut cibi deglutiti partem aliquem 

 vomitu semper aut etiam freqvienter rejicere debeat." I 

 should here inquire whether the castings of hawks, which 

 you know constantly throw up lumps of flix, or feathers, 

 or down, &c. (the wild as well as the reclaimed), bring 

 any of the food up with them. In fol. 309, I presume 

 there is an error in the print, i. e. Hirwidines for Hiru- 

 dines. You see, sir, how confidently, not to say impu- 

 dently, I trouble you with what I myself cannot believe 

 will deserve yom- considering ; but, however, this shows 

 you I read what you give (though not with that advan- 

 tage Avhich a man of a wiser head would do), and it is 

 an evidence, likewise, that I rely very much upon your 

 candour and friendship to forgive such impertinencies. 



Jan. 9, 169i. 



Mr. Rat to Dr. Hans Sloane. 



Black Notley, Feb. 3, —95. 



Sir, — Yom- extraordinary kindness merits great thanks 

 from me, and your ingenuity, in being willing so frankly 

 to communicate to me the sight and use of your labours, 

 no less, but I am not free to make use of them till pub- 

 lished, lest I should in any measiu-e prejudice the sale, 

 by rendering the contents not absolutely new to the world ; 

 but as for the reputation of being first author and dis- 

 coverer, I hope I shall not prejudice that, because I shall 

 acknowledge of whom I had them, with as ample a 

 character of the benefactor and contributor to my work 

 as he justly deserves. 



I am much of your temper as to the clearing up of 

 obscurities, and 1 doubt not but you have done more in 

 that, in reference to Hernandez, than any man yet hath ; 

 and I should be very glad to see your papers, but I am 

 in no haste. I shall not be able to finish my Supplement 



