392 OBSERVATIONS ON BIRDS. 



flight is not owing to its inability of flying faster, for I have seen 

 it fly very swiftly, although in general its actions are sluggish. Its 

 unwillingness to rise proceeds, I imagine, from its sluggish dispo- 

 sition, and its great timidity, for it will sometimes squat so close 

 to the ground as to suffer itself to be taken up by the hand, rather 

 than rise ; and yet it will at times run very fast. 



What Mr. White remarks respecting the small shell snails found 

 in its gizzard, confirms my opinion, that it frequents corn-fields, 

 seed clover, and brakes or fern, more for the sake of snails, slugs, 

 and other insects which abound in such places, than for the grain 

 or seeds j and that it is entirely an insectivorous bird. MARKWICK. 



FOOD OF THE RING-DOVE. 



One of my neighbours shot a ring-dove on an evening as it was 

 returning from feed, and going to roost. When his wife had picked 

 and drawn it, she found its craw stuffed with the most nice and 

 tender tops of turnips. These she washed and boiled, and so sat 

 down to a choice and delicate plate of greens, culled and provided 

 in this extraordinary manner. 



Hence .we may see that graminivorous birds, when grain fails, 

 can subsist on the leaves of vegetables. There is reason to sup- 

 pose that they would not long be healthy without \ for turkeys, 

 though corn fed, delight in a variety of plants, such as cabbage, 

 lettuce, endive, etc., and poultry pick much grass ; while geese 

 live for months together on commons by grazing alone. 



" Nought is useless made ; 



On the barren heath 



The shepherd tends his flock that daily crop 

 Their verdant dinner from the mossy turf 

 Sufficient : after them the cackling goose, 

 Close-grazer, finds wherewith to ease her want." 



PHILIPS'S Cyder. 



WHITE. 



That many graminivorous birds feed also on the herbage or 

 leaves of plants, there can be no doubt : partridges and larks fre- 

 quently feed on the green leaves of turnips, which give a peculiar 



