From its large and fair
proportions it might be supposed to have been a female; but I was
not permitted to cut open the specimen. For one of the birds of
prey, which are usually lean, this was in high case: in its craw were
many barley-corns, which probably came from the crop of the
wood-pigeon, on which it was feeding when shot: for voracious
birds do not eat grain; but when devouring their quarry, with
undistinguishing vehemence swallow bones and feathers, and all
matters, indiscriminately. This falcon was probably driven from the
mountains of North Wales or Scotland, where they are known to
breed, by rigorous weather and deep snows that had lately fallen.
(* See my tenth and eleventh letter to that gentleman. )
I am, etc.
Letter LVIII
To The Honourable Daines Barrington
My near neighbour, a young gentleman in the service of the East-
India Company, has brought home a dog and a bitch of the Chinese
breed from Canton; such as are fattened in the country for the
purpose of being eaten: they are about the size of a moderate
spaniel; of a pale yellow colour, with coarse bristling hairs on their
backs; sharp upright ears, and peaked heads, which give them a
very fox-like appearance.
Pages:
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414