218 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXXIV. 



on the moors. These birds being almost entirely 

 granivorous, always select cultivated districts — 

 and indeed they only thrive where corn grows ; but 

 their actual consumption of corn is not great, for a 

 partridge is a moderate eater, and in part feeds on 

 the seeds of grasses and many weeds as well as on 

 corn. I am confident, as I have before stated, that 

 most, if not all, granivorous birds amply repay 

 the farmer for their food by the quantity of weeds 

 they destroy during a great part of the year. The 

 pheasant is in a great degree an insectivorous 

 bird, and feeds more on grubs, caterpillars, and 

 other insects, than on corn ; thereby relieving the 

 farmer from a whole host of enemies whom he 

 could in no other way get rid of. 



During storms the ptarmigan burrow deep under 

 the snow in search of shelter and food. These 

 birds seldom descend far down the mountains, even 

 in the severest weather. When only the summits 

 are covered, they descend to the edge of the snow ; 

 but when the whole mountain is white, they do not 

 leave it for the lower hills, but find what shelter 

 they can by burrowing. Ptarmigan-shooting dur- 

 ing winter is a most laborious sport, and is fre- 

 cpiently attended with no small risk, owing to the 

 snow concealing the numerous clefts and dangerous 

 places which intersect the heights where these 



