quent on the Scottish mountains, and especially 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, 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 proper 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 1 

 have given in the article of the white hare. 



As a neighbour was latelv ploughing in a dry 

 chalky field, far removed from any water, he turned 

 out a water-rat, that was curiously laid up in an hy- 

 bernaculum artificially formed of grass and leaves. 

 At one end of the burrow lay about a gallon of po- 

 tatoes regularly stowed, on which it was to have sup- 

 ported itself for the winter. But the difficulty with 



me is how this anipliibiiis iinis came to fix its win- 



ii6 



