REPORT ON PLAGUE OF FIELD-VOLES IN SCOTLAND 145 



unusual supply of food. They are at all events most useful 

 allies to man in combating attacks of ground vermin. 



Your Committee further desire to deprecate in the 

 strongest manner possible the use of the pole-trap for the 

 capture of hawks. Besides the inhumanity of this device, it 

 is indiscriminate, and harmless owls, kestrels, and buzzards 

 are just as likely to be taken by it as are the most mischiev- 

 ous species. 



Three animals, diligent vole-destroyers, have been omitted 

 from both these lists, because they are undoubtedly hurtful 

 to game. The first of these is the common rook (known to 

 the shepherds as the corn -crow), of which, however, the 

 services to agriculture are now generally recognised. 



The other two animals referred to are the stoat and the 

 weasel. Of all the smaller beasts of prey these are perhaps 

 the most hateful to gamekeepers, and it is hardly reasonable 

 to expect that stoats should be allowed to multiply in game- 

 coverts, or in the vicinity of pheasant-coops. But your 

 Committee have no hesitation in recommending that weasels, 

 which are persistent mouse-hunters and do little damage to 

 game, should not be molested, at least on moorlands and 

 hill pastures, where they can do little harm and much good. 

 Your Committee cannot conclude their labours without 

 expressing gratitude for the consideration with which they 

 were everywhere received in the course of their inquiry, for 

 the hospitality shown to them, and for the exertions made 

 by various individuals to obtain witnesses and arrange their 

 evidence. 



HERBERT EUSTACE MAXWELL (Chairman). 



MINTO. 



D'ARCY W. THOMPSON. 



JOHN GILLESPIE. 



WALTER ELLIOT. 



J. E. HARTING (Secretary). 



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