1802.] | 
Pechaps, however, a ufeful diftinétion 
might be made with refpeé to the {pecies 
which ought principally to be encouraged 
and proteéted. In this view we may di- 
vide the feathered tribe into granivorous 
and carnivorous, or, more properly, infec- 
tivorous; thofe which are wholly or chiefly 
eranivorous certainly do much mifchief, 
and ought rather to be difeouraged ; while 
to the others every poffidle protection 
ought to be extended. The crow (as Dr. 
T.ettlom judicioufly obferves) is both 
eranivorous and carnivorous : but as they 
are, the carrion crow im particular, rather 
more of the latter charaéter, they are de- 
ferving of kindnefs and: attention; the 
rook leaft of all, fince it eats the mott 
corn. The magpie too is almoft entirely 
carnivorous, and is one of the moft ufeful 
creatures that exifts. [-always think 
when I hear of one of their nefts being 
dcftroyed by unlucky boys, that fociety 
-has loft fo many friends. They are in- 
defatigable in their purfuit of infects, and 
indeed almoft fubfift on the larger and 
moft deftruétive kinds, as flugs, cater- 
pillars, &c. Next to the magpie, the 
blackbird is, of all the inhabitants of the 
wocds, the molt ferviceable to man. He 
not only enlivens us with his charming 
fong, but clears ovr gardens and our 
fields of their worft enemies. There 
ought to be a penalty on taking the neft 
of either the blackbird or the thruth, 
which, as well as the blackbird, fubfifts 
during the {pring almoft wholly on infects. 
The robin-red-breaft ftands in the fame 
predicament : fuch is.his appetite for in- 
fe&ts, that he regularly follows the fpade 
of the delver, and that often at a {mall 
diftance ; and probably not lefs from his 
utility than his pleafing familiar habits, 
“is fuch.a favourite with country people. 
Among the infects on which he preys are 
fome of the moft deftruGtive that exift ; 
the feveral kindsof earth-grubs, the larve 
of infe&ts of the beetle kind, and the 
julus, or hundred-legs, a moft pernicious 
infeét, which, wherever it prevails, pro- 
duces a tumour on the roots of cabbages, 
broccoli, &c. and entirely fpoils the 
growth of the plant. Another fingular 
benefactor to man is the fwallow. A fin- 
gle bird of this genus, it is calculated, will 
deftroy nearly five thoufand moths and 
butterflies in a week ; and if we confider 
the countlefs number of caterpillars thefe 
would haye produced, can we do other- 
wife than hail the approach of thefe active 
friends; thefe cheerful and pleafant ‘ har- 
bingers of spring?” The nightingale is 
Birds, Granivorous and Carnivorous. 5 
alfo entirely an infetivorous bird, and 
therefore deferves our regard as well for 
its. ufeful exertions as its delightfal 
fang. 
On the other hand, the pigeon is alt 
roaft entirely a granivorous bird, and is 
one af the mot deftruStive that I know, 
It is even a milchievous animal, and will. 
deftroy the buds of flowers and plants, 
even where it does not eat them.’ The 
partridge is alfo granivorous and very de- 
firuétive, as well as the pheafant, which 
is however Jefs fo than the partridge, be. 
ing in fome meafure carnivorous. Of 
the {mall birds, I have found the common 
houle-{parrow moit mifchievous. Tevis 
rumous to the peafe and other plants 
reared for feed in the autumn fealon. 
Next to the foarrow in this deftru€tive 
clafs T’reckon the tom-tit; and perhaps 
moft of the hard-billed birds (ubfift on 
grain and feds. 
Of our domettic poultry, the common 
‘fowls are both’ graniverous and carnivo- 
rous ; but where they can find grain, they 
will feldom take the trouble of lockins 
forinfecis. The Turkey and the Guinea. 
fowl are much fonder of infeéts than com- 
mon fowls. ‘But there is no animal fo ufe~ 
ful for deftroying infects as the common 
duck. Iam indeed fatished that a far- 
mer would find his account by keeping 
large flocks of them, and driving them 
into his corn-fields when the corn is youne; 
and more particularly among the young 
turnips, which Io am convinced are de- 
ftroyed by the flug, and not by a fly, ac- 
cording tothe vulgar notion. 
Dr. Lettfom is certainly right, that 
froft is not fuch a deftroyer of infeéts as 
is commonly fuppofed. My little garden 
is greatly infefled with flugs ; and as T am 
fond of cultivating curious and beautiful 
herbaceous’ plants, I have fuffered very 
feverely by them. This however I can 
affirm, that I have found them much more 
numerous after very fevere feafons, than 
I did faft year, which was fo remarkably 
mild. “I however employed lait winter 
two excellent gardeners’ of the duck 
{pecies, and to their indefatigable exer- 
tions [ might be chiefly indebted for this 
circumftance, Iam, Sir, 
Your’s, &c. 
Varro. 
N.B, Can any of your Correfpondents anfwer 
this Query.—Is the nightingale really a bird 
of paiiage ; or is it only fient except in the 
fummeér feafon, and from being rarely feen 
(from its reclufe habits) fuppoted! ro depart, 
when it ceafes to fing ? 
Ja 
Fan. 2, 1802, 
