32 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT. 
touching the ground, but returning still to the same stand for 
many times together. 
I perceive there are more than one species of the Motaeilla 
which visits us. Mr. Derham supposes, in Ray's " Philos. 
Letters," that he has discovered three. In these there is again 
an instance of some very common birds that have as yet no 
English name. 
Mr. Stillingfleet makes a question whether the blackcap 
{Motaeilla atricapilla) be a bird of passage or not : I think there 
is no doubt of it : for, in April, in the first line weather, they 
come trooping, all at once, into these parts, but are never seen 
in the winter. They are delicate songsters. 
N'umbers of snipes breed every summer in some moory ground 
on the verge of this parish. It is very amusing to see the cock 
bird on wing at that time, and to hear his piping and humming 
notes. 
I have had no opportunity yet of procuring any of those mice 
which I mentioned to you in town. The person that brought 
me the last says they are plentiful in harvest, at which time I 
will take care to get more ; and will endeavour to put it out of 
doubt whether it be a nondescript species or not. 
I suspect much there may be two species of water-rats. Ray 
says, and Linn<pus after him, that the water-rat is web-footed 
- behind. lN"ow 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 ATiis ampltihiiis of Linnaeus, 
which, he says, swims and dives in ditches, " natat in fossis et 
urinatur." I should be glad to procure " one with the feet 
feathering out like a palm," planti^ palmaiis!' Linmieus 
seems to be in a puzzle about his Mus ampJdhius, and to doubt 
whether it differs from his Mns terrcstris, which if it be, as he 
allows, the " mus agrestis capite grandi brachyurus," a field- 
mouse, with " a large head and a short tail," 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 youi 
candour, that you v,'ill excuse me if it should appear as familiar 
