210 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
CONCLUSION. 
THE reader will no doubt have noticed that in the 
preceding pages I have omitted all mention of many 
birds which are undoubtedly beneficial, although but 
in a small and uncertain degree. This I have done 
with some regret, but, warned by considerations of 
‘space that description of all alike would be wholly 
impossible, I have felt it absolutely necessary to 
select for treatment those only whose services un. 
doubtedly outweigh the mischief which they may 
commit, or which, for some special reason, claim a 
few words at least of passing mention. 
No single British bird, so far as I can learn, is 
utterly and altogether mischievous. Even the ring- 
dove, upon whose destructive capabilities scarcely 
too much stress can be laid, devours a certain num- 
ber of wild seeds during the year, and so, although 
in but a slight degree, partially atones for its incessant 
depredations. 
On the other hand, few are altogether beneficial, 
the services of the great majority being qualified to 
some extent by occasional thefts of human produce, 
which, although less than those of the creatures of 
whose presence they relieve us, are nevertheless suffi- 
ciently great to cause to us an appreciable loss. In 
other words, there are but some half-dozen birds 
