242 



^rnmuhtgs nf Inrirfe. 



East Kent Natural History Society. — (Continued from p. 196.) — Hawking, 

 that most noble of all sports, — and which, I am happy to say, is again 

 rising in public estimation — shows the power we possess over birds, and 

 the means at our disposal for training them. The glorious flight of a 

 falcon towering far above us, then whirling with outstretched pinion, 

 moving in most graceful circles, and at the call cf return swooping 

 down with great rapidity, and almost unerringly striking as he passes the 

 whirling lure — is a sight, once seen, never to be forgotten. 



Time prevents my dilating any more on this interesting subject of 

 birds; but before quitting it, I wish to impress one fact strongly upon 

 you — that, although occasionally birds do us some injury, yet in the 

 aggregate they are our best friends; therefore nothing can be more 

 destructive to our land than killing them. During the breeding- season 

 our common birds feed their young almost entirely upon insects; thus 

 the pert and bold sparrow is at this time of the year a true and good 

 friend to the cultivator and gardener, and yet, like many true friends in 

 this world, is rewarded by having a price set upon his head, and doomed 

 to general and uncondemned destruction, by parish authorities, as well as 

 every idle, ragged urchin capable of climbing to its nest. Rooks are also 

 made to suffer the penalties inflicted by ignorance; yet the myriads of 

 caterpillars, slugs, and various insects consumed by a rookery is incalculable. 



A connexion of mine, some years since, farming nearly two hundred 

 acres, was prejudiced against these birds, doomed them to destruction, and 

 by poison and other means reduced his large rookery to a very small 

 number of birds. But a fearful retribution followed.' The next year the 

 larva of the cockchaffer and other insects, abounded to that degree that 

 his crops, in some places, were entirely destroyed. An intelligent friend 

 having pointed out to him his great error, he quickly took as much pains 

 to nurse his rookery, as he previously had done to destroy it. Fortunately 

 the happy result of his present course, conviuced him of the truth of 

 his friend's advice. 



I do not deny that birds occasionally do mischief, but the expense of 

 frightening them off the land is very trifling compared with the ravages 

 the insect world would commit, if not kept in some measure under by the 

 birds during the breeding-season. 



I have learnt with regret, that the practice of poisoning birds prevails 

 to a great extent in this neighbourhood, and there is a magpie among 

 the birds on the table which was killed in this manner. There is no 

 doubt that the mixture used for the purpose contains strychnine, whose 



