Northern Observations of Inland Birds 243 



Normally, however, the bird does little harm, for the 

 fish which are most plentiful and most exposed to its 

 activities are not of the kind man wishes to preserve. 

 The minnow is a very useful little fish, a wholesome food 

 for the trout, so saving them from each other, a source 

 of abundance for fish-eating birds and shrews, which 

 otherwise would feed upon the fry of more valuable fishes. 

 So, wheels within wheels. Nature works out her problem 

 of preservation, but when we ourselves step in with our 

 artificial aids we are only too Hkely to upset the general 

 balance. 



Q2 



