406 The Natural History of Selborne 



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 ; 

 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 extra- 

 ordinary manner. 



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

 subsist on the leaves of vegetables. There is reason to suppose that 

 they would not long be healthy without ; for turkeys, though corn- 

 fed, delight in a variety of plants, such as cabbage, lettuce, endive, 

 &c., 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-grazier, 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 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 



