218 ON VARIOUS PAllTS 



confirms ray opinion, that it frequents 

 corn-fields, seed clover, and brakes or fern, 

 more for the sake of snails, slugs, and 

 other insects w^hich abound in such places, 

 than for the grain or seeds; and that it 

 is entirely an insectivorous bird. 



Markwick. 



FOOD FOR 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 pro- 

 vided in this extraordinary 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 



