330 OBSERVATIONS ON 



cate plate of greens, culled and provided in this extraordi- 

 nary manner. 



Hence we may see that granivorous 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. 1 



" 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 Cider. 



HEN HARRIER. 



ME. WHITE, of Newton, sprung a pheasant in a wheat 

 stubble, and shot at it ; when, notwithstanding the report 

 of the gun, it was immediately pursued by the blue hawk, 

 known by the name of the hen harrier, but escaped into 

 some covert. He then sprung a second, and third, in the 

 same field, that got away in the same manner ; the hawk 

 hovering round him all the while that he was beating the 

 field, conscious no doubt of the game that lurked in the 

 stubble. Hence we may conclude that this bird of prey 

 was rendered very bold and daring by hunger, and that 

 hawks cannot always seize their game when they please. 

 We may further observe, that they cannot pounce their 



1 That many granivorous 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 gives 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 frequently 

 contracts a rank unpleasant taste, from their having lately fed on strong 

 marshy aquatic plants, as I suppose. 



That the leaves of vegetables are wholesome and conducive to the 

 health of birds, seems probable, for many people fat their clucks and 

 turkeys with the leaves of lettuce chopped small. MARKWICK. 



