Thus the squnck, or stonck, of Ray's Synop. Ouadr. is
an innocuous and sweet animal; but, when pressed hard by dogs
and men, it can eject such a pestilent and fetid smell and
excrement, that nodding can be more horrible.
A gentleman sent me lately a fine specimen of the lanius minor
cinerascens cum macula in scapulis alba Raii; which is a bird that,
at the time of your publishing your two first volumes of British
Zoology, I find you had not seen. You have described it well from
Edwards's drawing.
Letter XXVI
To Thomas Pennant, Esquire
Selborne, December 8, 1769.
Dear Sir,
I was much gratified by your communicative letter on your return
from Scotland, where you spent, I find, some considerable time,
and gave yourself good room to examine the natural curiosities of
that extensive kingdom, both those of the islands, as well as those
of the highlands. The usual bane of such expeditions is hurry;
because men seldom allot themselves half the time they should do:
but, fixing on a day for their return, post from place to place, rather
as if they were on a journey that required dispatch, than as
philosophers investigating the works of nature.
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