316 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



That many graminivorous birds feed also on tlie herbage, 

 or leaves of plants, there can be no doubt ; partridges and 

 larks frequently feed on the green leaves of turnips, which 

 give a peculiar flavour to their flesh, that is to me, very 

 palatable ; the flavour also of wild ducks and geese greatly 

 depends on the nature of their food ; and their flesh fre- 

 quently contracts a rank unpleasant taste, from their having 

 lately fed on strong marshy aquatic plants, as I suppose. 



That the leaves of vegetables are wholesome, and con- 

 ducive to the health of birds, seems probable, for many 

 people fat their ducks and turkeys with the leaves of lettuce 

 chopped small. Markwick. 



Hen-Harrier. — A neighbouring gentleman sprung a 

 pheasant in a wheat stubble, and shot at it ; when, notwith- 

 standing the report of the gun, it was immediately pursued 

 by the blue hawk, known by the name of the hen-harrier, 

 but escaped into some covert. He then sprung a second, 

 and a third, in the same field, that got away in the same 

 manner ; the hawk hovering round him all the while that ho 

 was beating the field, conscious, no doubt, of the game that 

 lurked in the stubble. Hence we may conclude that this 

 bird of prey was rendered very daring and bold by hunger, 

 and that hawks cannot always seize their game when they 

 please. We may farther observe, that they cannot pounce 

 their quarry on the ground, where it might be able to make 

 a stout resistance, since so large a fowl as a pheasant could 

 not but be visible to the piercing eye of a hawk, when hover- 

 ing over the field. Hence that propensity of cowering and 

 squatting, till they are almost trod on, which, no doubt, was 

 intended as a mode of security: though long rendered 

 destructive to the whole race of gallince by the invention of 

 nets and guns. White. 



Of the great boldness and rapacity of birds of prey, when 

 urged on by hunger, I have seen several instances; par- 



of its legs and neck enable it to reach from the tops of the stalks. When 

 confined, tie seeds should therefore be placed above them, and not strewed on 

 the ground Mr. Herbert says that he does not believe the land-rail will 

 touch a slug, and it may be doubted whether or not they ever take their food 

 from the ground. — Ed. 



