Cummings, A biographical sketch of Col. George IVIontagu. 323 



to wrap it up in soft paper sprinkled or damped with vinegar, first laying 

 the feathers smooth and then cover with thicker paper wetted with the same: 

 this will preserve the bird moist and defy putrefaction. The larger birds 

 should be carefully opened with a sharp knife from the vent upwards laying 

 the feathers back with damp paper to prevent their being blooded in taking 

 out the intestines ; a little alum or nitre should be thrown in and the incision 

 stopped with tow; and if a little of the alum and tow were put into the 

 mouth it would ensure its coming to me in good order. If you have any 

 conveyance to Bath and you will take the trouble of directing a box or basket 

 to me to the care of the Right Honourable Lady Jane Courtney, Milsom St., 

 Bath, I shall get it the day after it arrives there. Notwithstanding my post 

 town is Gloucestershire I live in Wiltshire where I shall be happy to obey 

 any commands from you and remain, sir, 



Your most obedient humble servant 



G. Montagu. 



Easton Grey, 



June 29 th. 1789. 



Dear Sir. 



I am exceedingly obliged to you for your polite favour and hope you will 

 excuse the mistake of the address. I am not able to boast of being an 

 ornithologist so long as you though I have delighted in it from infancy, and 

 was I not bound by conjugal attachment should like to ride my hobby into 

 distant parts; yet I agree with you that naturalists in general attempt to 

 explore too wide a field and their researches are too extensive, whereas if 

 persons well qualified were to confiije themselves to particular districts the 

 natural history compiled from provincial authors would no doubt throw much 

 light on the subject. 



I confess myself greatly obliged to your work for the discovery of the 

 third species of willow wren and for the first determined separation of the 

 other two species with whom I was perfectly well acquainted as to their notes 

 but suspected that the same bird might produce both notes promiscuously. 



Your work produced in me fresh ardour and with that degree of enthu- 

 siasm necessary for such investigations I pervaded the interior recesses of 

 the thickest woods and spread my researches to every place within my reach 

 that seemed likely. I was soon convinced of two distinct species not only in 

 their song but in their size, colour, eggs and materials with wh they build 

 their nests. The third species which you seem to think peculiar to your 

 beechwood I flatter myself I have at last discovered to be an inhabitant of 

 this part but they are very scarce and partial. Three only have I discovered; 

 two of which I brought down with my gun from the top of tall oak trees in 

 a thick grove interpersed with brambles. From the reiterated note somewhat 

 resembling the blue titmouse and their colour being more vivid than the other 

 species I do not hesitate to pronounce it that discovered by you though mine 

 did not possess any white on the tips of the quills or secondary feathers; 

 but the belly was pure white and the action of its wings agrees with your 

 description: besides the note it commonly uses which is somewhat grasshopper- 

 like it produces a shrill note five or six times repeated sounding like the 



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