118 



BIRDS, CONSIDERED WITH 



when other food is wanting, attacks buds. The robin devours currants, more 

 especially about the time the young robins leave the nest, in June, when 

 the currants are begiiming to ripen. Blackcaps, whitethroats, and bull- 

 finches, eat currants, strawberries, and raspberries ; and of the latter fruit, 

 bullfinches are particularly fond. Gooseberries, being too large for the 

 soft-bnied birds, as soon as they ripen are attacked by blackbirds and 

 thrushes ; and the fondness of these birds for ripe cherries has long been 

 notorious. The wren and the fly-catcher are purely insectivorous ; and 

 the tomtits, though they sometimes destroy buds, yet are far more useful 

 than injurious, from the number of caterpillars which they devour. 



367. Rasdres {Scratchers). — Birds with feet not formed for scraping: food, 

 chiefly seeds and terrestrial vermin. The ringdove, and different other species 

 of doves, live on all kinds of grain and seeds, and, during severe weather, on 

 the leaves of turnips and other cultivated plants ; and some of them occasion- 

 ally eat the smaller snails and slugs. This is the case with the domestic 

 pigeon ; though it more frequently lives on peas and grain. The turkey lives 

 on snails, slugs, worms, lizards, frogs, and terrestrial insects, together with 

 corn and seeds of almost every other kind. The peacock lives on similar food, 

 and will even attack small snakes. The Guinea pintado, the domestic cock, 

 and the pheasant, are omnivorous, eating roots as well as animals, fruits, and 

 seeds. The corm of JXanunculus bulbdsus, where it abounds, is greedily 

 eaten by the pheasant. The grouse (Tetrao L.) frequents woods of pines, 

 birch, and juniper, and feeds on the berries of the latter, and on the buds 

 and tender spray of the two former. The black grouse feeds on berries, and 

 on the tops of heath and birch. The common partridge feeds on seeds and 

 insects, and especially on the pupae of ants. Few of these birds concern the 

 gardener, except the turkey, peacock, and pheasant, which may be useful , 

 in pleasure -grounds in picking up vermin. 



868. Gmllatdres {Waders). — Birds with legs adapted for wading: food, 

 chiefly animals and grain. The plover (Charadrius i.), of which there are 

 several species, haunts moors and other open districts, and lives on worms and 

 insects. The heron feeds principally on fish and small reptiles. The stork, 

 which sometimes appears in Suffolk, lives on reptiles, insects, smaU quadru- 

 peds, such as mice, rats, &c., and might be usefully domiciliated in gardens ; 

 as might the crane, as an ornamental object, and because it feeds on aquatic 

 plants, worms, and small reptiles. The woodcock (*S'c61opax i.), a winter 

 visitant, lives on insects and worms ; as does the snipe. The water-hen 

 (Galllnula Lath.), and the coot (T^ulica L.), feed on aquatic insects, seeds, 

 and vegetables. The birds of this order may be said scarcely to concern the 

 gardener. 



369. Natatdres {Swimmers). — Birds with feet adapted for swimming, om- 

 nivorous. The goose (^'nser Briss.), of which there are several species, and the 

 swan (Cygnus Meyer) live upon grain of all kinds, aquatic vegetables, 

 and grass. The common gull (JLarus canus L.) is an inhabitant of the sea- 

 coast, but frequents inland districts during the winter months, where it lives 

 upon worms, snails, and small fish. As it does not touch seeds or vegetables 

 of any kind, it is kept in gardens in various parts of Scotland. The common 

 duck (^'nas ^oschas L.) feeds naturally on aquatic insects and vege- 

 tables, fish, and molluscous animals, and is the most useful bird of this , 

 order for occasional admission into gardens. Ducks, however, when placed ; 

 in a garden to destroy vermin, require to be' withdrawn once a day, and ' 



