Dear Sir,
The summer thro’ I have seen but two of that large species of bat which I call vespertilio altivolans from it’s manner of feeding high in the air. I procured one of them; & found it to be a male; & made no doubt as they accompanyed together, that the other was a female. But happening in an evening or two to procure the other, I was somewhat disappointed to find that also of the same sex. This circumstance, & the great scarcity of this sort, at least in these parts, occasions some suspicions in my mind whether this sort be really a species, or whether it may not rather be the male part of the more known species, one of may supply many females; as is known to be the case in sheep, & some other quadrupeds. But this doubt can only be cleared by farther examination, & some attention to the sex of the specimens. All that I know at present is that m two specimens were amply furnished with the parts of generation. much resembling those of a boar. In the extent of their wings they measured 14 inches & an half, & four inches & an half from the nose to the tip of the tail. Their heads were large, their nostrils bilobated, their shoulders broad & muscular; & their whole bodies fleshy & plump. Nothing could be more sleek & soft than their fur, which was of a bright chestnut colour. Their maws were full of food, but so macerated as not to be distinguished as to quality: their livers, kidneys, & hearts were large, & their bowels covered with fat. They weighed each when entire full one ounce & a dram. With the ear there was standing on a pedunculus a small valve, which as occasion served was so disposed as to close the orifice into the head. These creatures sent forth a very rancid, & offensive smell. At first I suspected they might have been of the ordo of Glines, & genus of noctilis: but on examination their teeth discovered them to be perfect VespertilionesThis relates to the rather confused history of the taxonomy of bats. The Noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) which White is referring to here are Vespertiloid bats, but would previously have been put into a separate Order.
On the 12:th of July I had a fair opportunity of contemplating the motions of a Caprimulgus as it was playing round a large oak that swamped with Scarabæi solstitiales. The powers of it’s wing were wonderful, exceeding it possible the various evolutions & quick turns of the swallow genus But the circumstance that pleased me most was that I saw it distinctly more than once put out it’s short leg while on the wing, & by a bend of the head deliver somewhat into it’s mouth. Now if it takes any of it’s prey with it’s foot as I have reason to suspect it does, I no longer wonder at the use of it’s middle toe, which is curiously furnished with a serrated claw.
By the next return of the waggon I shall send up a small but rare collection of birds, which I beg that you & Mr Banks would please to examine, that I may hear what two such curious Naturalists have to say about some of them.
They are as follow:
Merula passer solitarius: M; & F:
Merula nigerrima uropygio,So far the species White is referring to here has not been possible to identify. It is appears to be a thrush of some form with a black uropogium (the rump of the bird which supports the tail feathers), but no further details can be ascertained
- - rectricibus [?]White uses a symbol here which cannot be identified or reconciled against any regonisable marker. niveis:This brief description cannot currently be determined against any known species name or description It not this a nondescript?
Fringilla petronia:
Sturnus collaris Scopoli: An elegant bird!
Emberiza cirlus:
Pratincola Krameri: Well engraved in Stramer.
Anas clypeata pectore rubro: Differs from our shoveler.
Species of lark: What?
Motacilla boarula Scopoli:
Specie of perch. What?
You are welcome to take these birds into the country as you say London affords you no leisure for examination in such matters: & if you shall think them worthy of being drawn, you will lay us under great obligations by communicating those drawings at a proper season. My Brothe
John White
r makes no contemptible progress in Nat:history: & will be able, I tryst by the assistance of good friends (to whom he will be ready to make all due acknowledgements) to produce in due time somewhat not unworthy the attention of the candid Naturalist. Please to return the birds to by Bro: in Thames street
Thomas Holt-White
as usual. It will not be in my power to meet you in London at present, because I have a call that obliges me to go an other way.
Pray present my humble respects to Mr: Banks, & tell him I heartily congratulate him on his safe return from his astonishing voyage! The world expects great Information from his discoveries during his circumnavigation.
My respects also wait on Mr Barrington, & thanks for his letter from Beaumaris.
P:S: The swallows & martins, as to the bulk of them, have taken their leave^
up of us sooner this year than usual. For on Sunday morning last, Sept: 22:^
they rendezvous’d in a neighbour’s wall nut-tree, where it seemed probable they had taken their lodging all the night. At the dawn of the day they rose altogether in infinite numbers, occasioning such a rushing by the strokes of their wings as might be heard at a considerable distance. Since that no flock has appeared, only now & then a few stragglers. Some swifts stayed late, ‘til the 22nd of August.
Yesterday three or four ring-ouzels made their appearance in my fields for the first time^
this season How punctual are these migraters in their autumnal, & spring visits!
After returning you may acknowledge