n2 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
of suet, and haunts butchers' shops. Wlien a boy, I have known 
twenty in a morning caught with snap mouse-traps, baited with 
tailow or suet. It will also pick holes in apples left on the 
ground, and be well entertained with the seeds on the head of 
a sun-flower. I'he blue, marsh, and great titmice will, in very 
severe weather, carry away barley and oat straws from the sides 
of ricks. 
Kow the wheat-ear and whin-chat support themselves in win- 
ter cannot be so easily ascertained, smce they spend their time 
on wild heaths and warrens ; the former especially, where there 
are stone quarries : most probably it is that their maintenance 
arises from the aurelice of the lepidoptera or do, which furnish 
them with a plentiful table in the wilderness. 
I am, &c. 
LETTER XLII. To T. PENNANT, Esq. 
DEAR SIR, Selhorne, March 9, 177'5. 
Some iutuvefaunist, a man of fortune, will, I hope, extend his 
visits to the kingdom of Ireland ; a new field, and a country little 
known to the naturalist. He will not, it is to be wished, under- 
take that tour unaccompanied by a botanist, because the moun- 
tains have scarcely been sufficiently examined ; and the southerly 
counties of so mild an island may possibly afford some plants 
little to be expected within the British dominions.* A person of 
a thinking turn of mind will draw many just remarks from the 
modern improvements of that country, both in arts and agricul- 
ture, where premiums obtained long before they were heard of 
with us. The manners of the v/ild natives, their superstitions, 
their prejudices, their sordid way of life, will extort from him 
many useful reflections. He should also take with him an able 
draughtsman ; for he must by no means pass over the noble 
castles and seats, the extensive and picturesque lakes and water- 
falls, and the lofty stupendous mountains, so little known, and 
so engaging to the imagination when described and exhibited in 
a lively manner : such a work would be well received. , 
As I have seen no modern map of Scotland, I cannot pretend 
* Even now the natural productions of Ireland are comparatively but little understood, though 
at prescni there are several observers diligently occupied in the investigation of tbp"> T beli^^e 
we are soon to expect ^ fauna of that country. — Fi>. 
