ZOOLOGY. 



THE TOOD AND USE OF OUR EAPAOIOUS BIKDS. 

 By GEORGE SIM. 



IN this, as in every other subject, there are two parties hold- 

 ing different views ; the one affirming that these creatures 

 are of no use whatever, and therefore their extermination much 

 to be desired ; the other, that they are of use — in short, are indis- 

 pensably necessary to the well-being of the feathered creation 

 and of man. 



Of those holding the latter opinion I am a humble adherent. 

 And although in numbers we are in the minority, I venture to 

 say, weighed in the scales of reason, we overbalance our oppo- 

 nents very considerably ; and why? because those differing from 

 us have not considered the matter further than this : — they occa- 

 sionally see rapacious birds kill game, therefore they conclude 

 that by destroying the one, they increase the numbers of the other, 

 and thereby augment their own gain. On our side, however, the 

 whole subject has received some consideration, taking into ac- 

 -count, not merely the supposed mischief they do, but also the 

 good, coming to our conclusion by the result. 



Individually, it is a subject which has engaged my attention 

 for many years, and for the past ten, I have carefully examined 

 the stomach of each bird as it came to hand, and although 

 against my own interest, I am bound in honesty to raise my 

 voice, feeble though it be, against a practice so diametrically 

 opposed to the interests of humanity, that of exterminating what 

 is at present known by the term vermin. 



The present destructive treatment of our rapacious animals 

 is a subject which may now be said to be of national importance, 

 and one, too, which if much longer allowed to run its present 

 course, will ultimately result in much more serious consequences 

 than is at present thought of. ' 



For a long time back the aim has been to nave as many (if 



