Appendix 5 2 



hedges ; but were soon convinced to the contrary, by making our 

 observations in open places where no rime could reach us. 



Note. This is not uncommon in Westmoreland and Cumber- 

 land. I have myself noticed it often in hard frosts. 



Vol. II. p. in [400]. The occasion of this clammy appearance 

 seems to be this : that in hot weather the effluvia of flowers in 

 fields and meadows and gardens are drawn up in the day by a 

 brisk evaporation, and then in the night fall down again with the 

 dews, in which they are entangled ; that the air is strongly scented, 

 and therefore impregnated with the particles of flowers in summer 

 weather, our senses will inform us ; and that this clammy sweet 

 substance is of the vegetable kind we may learn from bees, to whom 

 it is very grateful : and we may be assured that it falls in the night, 

 because it is always first seen in warm still mornings. 



Note. This is now known to be the saccharine excrement of the 

 Aphides. It is a true sugar, no wonder, therefore, that though not 

 directly vegetable, the bees are fond of it. 



FOOD OF THE RINGDOVE. 



Vol. I I. p. 178 [424]. One of my neighbours shot a ringdove 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. 



Note. Opiate of greens found in the craw of a ringdove ! ! A 

 peck of turnip-tops would, when boiled, make little more. 



Vol. 1 1. p. 181 [425]. Of the great boldness and rapacity of birds 

 of prey when urged on by hunger, I have seen several instances ; 

 particularly when shooting in the winter in company with two 

 friends, a woodcock flew across us closely pursued by a small 

 hawk ; we all three fired at the woodcock instead of the hawk, 

 which, notwithstanding the report of three guns close by it, con- 



