the Seat of Charles Waterton, Esq. SB 



and interests. The rook will be found equally useful to the 

 husbandman, as the destroyer of the eggs, the worms or 

 larvae, and the caterpillars, of insects hurtful to his root and 

 grain crops. 



The rapacious birds also find a home in Walton Park, and 

 a friend in its proprietor. The raven is now and then seen, 

 though but rarely, as the hand of the enemy has fallen 

 heavily upon this noble bird. Great flights of the carrion 

 crow, every evening of the year, may be seen repairing from 

 all directions for their roosting-place in its woods; magpies 

 in equal numbers may likewise be seen taking up in them their 

 sleepmg-quariers ; different varieties of hawks resort for the 

 same purpose, and here their " aeries build.'* 



Some might suppose, from the presence of so many birds of 

 prey, that no game would be found in the park: it is quite 

 the reverse; game abounds in it. In 18S3, a wood pigeon 

 built in a tree four feet below that of a magpie; both lived in 

 the greatest harmony, hatched their eggs, and reared their 

 young. Many similar instances of the rapacious birds and 

 the others living here peaceably together might be adduced. 

 The pheasant, the partridge, the woodcock, in their season, 

 and the ha«'e, a-e very numerous. Were it not for the shelter 

 they meet within the walls of the park, Mr. Waterton believes 

 that they would have been ere this rooted out of his district of 

 country, as some species of birds, such as the larger variety 

 of woodpecker and others, have been. 



The pheasant receives every attention. Except for about 

 four months of the vear, he can provide himself with food by 

 living upon the beech mast, the sweet chestnut, acorns, and 

 other sorts of food. To provide him with winter provisions, 

 Mr. Waterton plants a quarter of an acre with the thousand- 

 headed cabbage, which is sown in April, and transplanted in 

 June. This cabbage the pheasant eats voraciously in the 

 winter time. Beans are preferred to any kind of grain, as 

 being less pilfered by the smaller birds. 



The grasshopper, 



" saltitans per herbas, 



JEslatis est chorista," 



whose sweet summer song was unceasingly heard, is now 

 silent and scarce ever heard ; this insect is a dainty repast 

 of the pheasant. 



Besides the hedgehog and the rook, the jay and the wood- 

 pecker come in for their share of proscription by the game- 

 keeper, to swell his murderous calendar to produce to his 

 squire. Those last two birds, he affirms, on no just grounds, 

 prey upon his game, by pilfering eggs, and by other acts of 



Vol, VIII. — No. 45. ' d 



