DESTRUCTION OF HARMLESS ANIMALS. 145 
in country situations, very rarely frequent the gar- 
den; because, grain being their chief food, they 
search for it round the farmyard, the rick, and the 
stable: they resort to such situations accordingly. 
The Robins, on the other hand, are the great de- 
vourers of all the small fruits: they come from the 
nest just before the currants and gooseberries are 
ripe; and they immediately spread themselves over 
the adjacent gardens, which they do not quit so 
long as there is any thing to pillage. It may ap- 
pear strange, as it certainly is, that no writer on 
our native birds should have been aware of these 
facts; but it is only a proof how little those persons,— 
who are, nevertheless, interested in knowing such 
things, — attend to the habits and economy of beings 
continually before their eyes. In like manner, we 
protect blackbirds for their song, that they may rob 
us of our wall and standard fruits with impunity. 
(88.) It behoves every one to show humanity to 
animals, although we are authorised and justified in 
destroying such as are found, by experience, to injure 
our property. Under this latter head, however, we 
are committing so many mistakes, that, ere long, 
some of the most elegant and interesting of our 
native animals will probably be extirpated. Country 
gentlemen give orders to their gamekeepers to de- 
stroy all “ vermin” on their preserves; and these 
menials, equally ignorant with their masters of what 
“vermin” are really injurious, commence an indiscri- 
minate attack upon all animals. The jay, the wood- 
pecker, and the squirrel, — three of the most elegant 
and innocent inhabitants of our woods,—are doomed 
to the same destruction as the stoat, the polecat, and 
_ 
