168 OENITHOLOGICAL llAMBLES. 



ing meadows, slowly advancing step by step, ex- 

 amining every tuft of grass, and patiently " darn- 

 ing" the field for hours together? Be assured for 

 nothing but worms, slugs, and insects. And then 

 what myriads of that scourge, the wireworm,* do 

 they not consume! 



For nine months of the year they are thus use- 

 ftdly employed; and if you were to kill and dis- 

 sect a pheasant during that period, the contents 

 of his crop would satisfy you that his condemna- 

 tion is unjust, and that, on the wdiole, he is rather 

 the friend than the foe of the agriculturist."!* 



The common partridge (Perdix cinerea) is found 



*■ This destructive insect is the larva of one of the 

 click-beetles {Elater segetis). 



t How much it is to be regretted that the study of 

 Entomology has not been rendered more subservient to 

 practical purposes by those who have devoted their 

 time and talents to this fascinating pursuit ! But there 

 is no rule without an exception. Witness the recent 

 publication of the " Letters of Busticus of Godalming," 

 under the able editorshijD of Mr. Newman. With 

 much valuable matter relative to other branches gf 

 Natural History, this work contains by far the best 

 account extant of those insects which are injurious to 

 vegetation, and known by the name of " blight ;" while 

 the descriptions are not less remarkable for their ac- 

 curacy than for their popular style and graphic power. 

 Every farmer, as well as naturalist, ought to possess 

 this interesting volume. 



