The Natural History of Selborne 151 



and a general devourer. Besides insects, it is very fond of 

 flesh ; for it frequently picks bones on dunghills : it is a vast 

 admirer of suet, and haunts butchers' shops. When a boy, I 

 have known twenty in a morning caught with snap mouse- 

 traps, baited with tallow or suet. It will also pick holes in 

 apples left on the ground, and be well entertained with 

 the seeds on the head of a sunflower. The blue, marsh, and 

 great titmice will, in very severe weather, carry away barley 

 and oat-straws from the sides of ricks. 



How the wheat-ear and whin-chat support themselves in 

 winter cannot be so easily ascertained, since they spend their 

 time on wild heaths and warrens ; the former especially, 

 where there are stone quarries : most probable it is that 

 their maintenance arises from the aurelise of the Lepidoptera 

 ordo, which furnish them with a plentiful table in the wil- 

 derness. I am, &c. 



