332 Rats and the Balance of Nature. [Sess. 



" J. H. Corballis," who wrote at considerable length in the 

 ' Scotsman/ stated " that the natural destroyers of rats are the 

 hen-harrier, the long-eared owl, tawny owl, cats, weasels, stoats, 

 kestrels, eagles, sparrow-hawks, lanner, saker, and goshawk." 

 This, I submit, is a mere trifling with the subject. As rats are 

 nocturnal in their habits, it appears to me that, with the ex- 

 ception of owls, it is the extreme of folly to characterise the 

 hawk tribe as the " natural destroyers of rats." In promul- 

 gating his balance -of -nature theory, this writer states that 

 " some keepers will, no doubt, remain incredulous." He is 

 quite right there, as I for one not only remain incredulous but 

 resolutely oppose his theory. I oppose it — first, because it is 

 inaccurate ; and, second, because it is more far-reaching in its 

 mischievous results than appears at first sight. This balance- 

 of-nature theory, however plausible and popular, I regard as 

 simply nonsense. Not only so, it is mischievous and most 

 prejudicial to the substantial interests of landed proprietors 

 who are foolish enough to believe it, and carry it out on their 

 property. I know a large estate of over 15,000 acres on the 

 west coast of Inverness-shire where the balance -of- nature 

 theory is most scrupulously carried out. The result is that, in 

 so far as ground or winged game is concerned (deer excepted), 

 the shootings are comparatively valueless. This is not because 

 the external and geographical conditions for an abundance of 

 grouse, black-game, and partridges do not exist. For black- 

 game the conditions are excellent, while for grouse and 

 partridges they are fairly good. Now I venture to say that 

 on these 15,000 acres it would baffle a couple of the best 

 sportsmen to kill more than 100 or 150 brace of grouse dur- 

 ing the entire season. Why ? Simply because the balance 

 of nature is preserved, and the hawks, ravens, and hoodie- 

 crows are ten times more numerous than the winged game. 

 Had I the control of that property for a few years, I feel 

 assured that by killing down the winged vermin the shooting- 

 rent would be increased at least 200 per cent. So much, then, 

 for the economic policy of maintaining the balance of nature 

 undisturbed. This advocate for maintaining the balance of 

 nature asks incredulous gamekeepers and others to consult 

 men who have shot game in Africa, China, Canada, &c., where 

 the balance of nature is vmmolested. But transferring his field 



