O F S E L B O R N E. 107 
be well entertained with the feeds on the head of a fun-flowei% 
The blue, marfli, and great titmice will, in very fevere weather, 
carry away barley and oat ftraws from the fides of ricks. 
How the wheat-ear and whin-chat fupport themfelves in winter 
cannot be fo eafily afcertained, fince they fpend their time on 
wild heaths and warrens ; the former efpecially, where there are 
ftone quarries : moft probably it is that their maintenance arifes 
from the aurelia of the lepidoptera ordo, which furnifh them with a 
plentiful table in the wildernefs. I am, &c. 
LETTER XLII. 
TO THE SAME. 
DEAR SIR, Sei-borne, March 9, 1775. 
Some future faunlft, a man of fortune, will, I hope, extend his 
vifits to the kingdom of Ireland; a new field, and a country little 
known to the naturalift. He will not, it is to be wifhed, under- 
take that tour unaccompanied by a botanift, becaufe the mountains 
have fcarcely been fufficiently examined ; and the foutherly coun- 
ties of fo mild an illand may poffibly afford fome plants Uttle to 
be expeded within the Brit'iJJo dominions. A perfon of a thinking 
turn of mind will draw many juft remarks from the modern im- 
provements of that country, both in arts and agriculture, where 
premiums obtained long before they were heard of with us. The 
manners of the wild natives, their fuperftitionsj their prejudices, 
P 2 their 
