44 



THE NATURALIST. 



devour the seed is well known. I have seen it collect insects after the plough 

 in spring, but its principal food seems to be grain and the seeds of weeds. 

 Whether it is beneficial to the farmer or not is very doubtful. 



Geeenfinch. This finch frequently feeds in spring in the newly sown 

 fields. It only alights occasionally in the ploughman's furrow. Like the 

 Chaffinch it has a strong propensity for the seeds of cultivated cruciferous 

 plants. It feeds largely on the seeds of weeds, I have found the triangular 

 seeds of plants belonging to the Polygonum family, and seeds of the Spurges 

 in their stomachs. 



Yellowhammer. Sometimes may be seen in the wake of the plough- 

 man, but it is a very inconstant attendant. It prefers feeding on the level 

 ground or in the stubbles. 



EoBiN. The Eobin is eventually a ground feeder. It is very unsocial, 

 and in winter is remarkably mute, as far as disconnected notes go. When in 

 quest of food in the arable field it generally stays about the ends of the 

 farrows, flying into the middle of the hedge when disturbed by the horses, 

 and dropping down again when they go away. It searches over a limited 

 area, attaching itself to one spot and remaining there. Long h^bit enables 

 it to detect invisible insects by the motion they produce on the surface of 

 the soil. The Eobin consumes vast quantities of worms, small ground 

 larvae and centipedes, and well earns the immunity that it enjoys. 



Wood Pigeon. This bird does much injury by feeding among newly- 

 sown barley, wheat, oats, peas, or beans, but it is not very common in my 

 immediate neighbourhood, I cannot therefore, say much respecting its habits, 

 MacGillivray says, it feeds occasionally on the seeds of field mustard, and 

 charlock. A few miles further east where there are large woods it occurs in 

 considerable numbers, and makes serious ravages among the farmer's produce. 

 In the first volume of the Naturalist there is an interesting note by Mr. 

 Eanson on the destructiveness of this bird. 



These are the principal birds I have seen feeding in the fields after the 

 plough or harrows. They are all permanent residents but the Yellow Wag- 

 tail. The three Wagtails and the Eobin are almost exclusively insectivorous, 

 and are worthy of careful protection. 



Loftliouse, June 20th, 1866. 



