markably short and well set: the feet were armed with most formidable,
sharp, long talons: the eyelids and cere of the bill were yellow; but the
irides of the eyes dusky; the beak was thick and hooked, and of a dark
colour, and had a jagged process near the end of the upper mandible on
each side: its tail, or train, was short in proportion to the bulk of its
body; yet the wings, when closed, did not extend to the end of the train.
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.

I am, etc.

LETTER LVIII.

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 that 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. Their hind
legs are unusually straight, without any bend at the hock or ham, to such
a degree as to give them an awkward gait when they trot. When they are
in motion their tails are curved high over their backs like those of some
hounds, and have a bare place each on the outside from the tip midway,
that does not seem to be matter of accident, but somewhat singular. Their
eyes are jet-black, small, and piercing; the insides of their lips and
mouths of the same colour, and their tongues blue. The bitch has a dew-
claw on each hind leg; the dog has none. When taken out into a field the
bitch showed some disposition for hunting, and dwelt on the scent of a
covey of partridges till she sprung them, giving her tongue all the time.
The dogs in South America are dumb; but these bark much in a short thick
manner like foxes, and have a surly, savage demeanour like their
ancestors, which are not dom