They love to frequent waters, not
only for the sake of drinking, but on account of insects, which are
found over them in the greatest plenty. As I was going, some years
ago, pretty late, in a boat from Richmond to Sunbury, on a warm
summer's evening, I think I saw myriads of bats between the two
places: the air swarmed with them all along the Thames, so that
hundreds were in sight at a time.
I am, etc.
Letter XII
To Thomas Pennant, Esquire
November 4, 1767.
Sir,
It gave me no small satisfaction to hear that the falco* turned out
an uncommon one. I must confess I should have been better
pleased to have heard that I had sent you a bird that you had never
seen before; but that, I find, would be a difficult task.
(* This hawk proved to be the falco peregrinus; a variety.)
I have procured some of the mice mentioned in my former letters, a
young one and a female with young, both of which I have
preserved in brandy. From the colour, shape, size, and manner of
nesting, I make no doubt but that the species is nondescript.
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