OF SELBORNE. 
279 
which it was feeding when fliot : for voracious birds do not eat 
grain ; but, when devouring their quarry, with undiftinguifhing 
vehemence fwallow bones and feathers, and ail matters, indif- 
criminately. This falcon was probably driven from the mountains 
of North IVales or Scotland, where they are known to breed, by 
rigorous weather and deep fnows that had lately fallen. 
I am, 8cc.. 
LETTER LVIIL 
TO THE SAME. 
M Y near neighbour, a young gentleman in the fervice of the 
Eciji-India Company, has brought home a dog and a bitch of the 
Chinefe breed from Canton ; fuch as are fattened in that country 
for the purpofe of being eaten : they are about the fize of a 
moderate fpaniel ; of a pale yellow colour, with coarfe briftling 
hairs on their backs ; fliarp upright ears, and peaked heads, 
which give them a very fox-like appearance. Their hind legs are 
unufually ftraight, without any bend at the hock or ham, to fuch 
a degree as to give them an aukward gait when they trot. When 
they are in motion their tails are curved high over their backs 
like thofe of fome hounds, and have a bare place each on the 
outlide from the tip midway, that docs not fcem to be matter of 
accident. 
