[ 104^1 
Mr. Graindorges Defcription, which you fent me a 
Breviat of from Paris, I find upon attent reading and 
comparing with the cafe of the Bird, and mine own 
Defcription^ to be very faithful!, and fufficient tolead 
ijito the knowledge of it, one, that had not beenpre- 
poiTeflTed with a flrong opinion, that it was of another 
kind: had there been but one word added, that it was 
of the Duck,- kind, I fhould then prefently have appre- 
hended, what Bird it wasi and yet there was enougli in the 
Defcription to determine its G^OTJ, at leaft to exclude it 
from thofe of the M^r^i and Colymhi, and that was,, that 
it had a flat bill, a note common to no other Birds that 
I know of, but the Goofe and Duck- kinds. Notwith- 
ft^nding what -l^e, faith of the debility of its feet, unfit 
for walking on land, Ifee ubt but tjiat it may march as 
well as the refl of its kind, all which have butfhortand 
weak legs in proportion to the Bulk of their bodys, and 
thofe alfo fitjEate. y^ry bi^ckward, What he faith of the 
fmallnefs and w^ejjc^ Wings, and Ihortnef^ oi 
their feathers , is. , common to many Sea-fowl, ^f^. the 
'TridaHyU and Mergi, which yet by the nimble agitation 
ofthem, fly very fwiftly and flrongly. What he faith of 
the mobjlky^x)^. t^ mandible of the Jaw, iJhall 
iiqf be too hafty tq beliCjV^, asiji .a^ former-letter, .1 r^- 
mej^er.t:o,4iaveAvrit.tea,^ ■ - ••' - --I'n 
Now though? this Bird hapned[ to be known to me by 
another name,^ yet it is fo rare and uncommon, that I 
take ^t nor to have be^nxlF^Pf?^!?^ ^tA^^J- ^l^^^haiypf; ^^^^ 
ten^jcheHiltory^of BirHs,^ (^as J f^ember^ 
t^e^pame oi ,m^n,tionjpiii;l;;y.jG^ or; idldro^ 
or botii^ why they o^ the Qbur'c^^^ ihould 
allow this Birdto be eaten in Lent, and upon other faft- 
ing days, ^mo;:^ theia^ .qthej^ oi; jbiis kiiid,.^ efpecially 
the TyriddiyUj^ii^ ief ' fdp . A^fli of theie laft, 
which li;i^e qply ori^hteAy Ky preyiug u,pon fi|^ 
fo called, tafting ftronger,9f fifh;, ,thcn that of any puck, 
' ■ " . • which 
