14 
CHAPTER IL 
BIRDS OF. fins, 
HE woody district described in the preceding 
chapter possesses two great attractions for rapa- 
cious birds—viz., shelter and food, combined with a 
large amount of seclusion. Minor matters may more or 
less influence the occurrence of a particular family or 
species in a locality, but it is the all-important question 
of food which determines their greater or less frequency ; 
the abundance of game and waterfowl! which are strictly 
preserved on the numerous domains around us, offers to 
birds of prey an additional attraction to their ordinary 
supplies, and, as might be expected, a large amount of 
black mail is levied by these winged reivers for their 
own especial use. 
In one respect, indeed, abundance of game might be 
considered unfavourable to the increase of birds of prey, 
for in Great Britain game is invariably accompanied by 
gamekeepers, and they hold the whole tribe in detesta- 
tion, and lose no opportunity of showing their hostility 
to such “varmint.” This is sadly testified by the 
numerous victims whose bleaching skeletons adorn the 
doors and walls of the feeding hovels, and other similar 
places. Yet, in spite of the war which is so unrelent- 
ingly waged against them, the causes I have previously 
