16 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
insist upon a large head of game being reared at all 
costs. Any creature, therefore, against which there is 
even traditional suspicion, is under their ban. It is 
greatly to be deplored that those who are responsible 
for the keeper’s actions should selfishly sanction the 
destruction of creatures whose value to the community 
has been amply proved, thereby often contributing to 
the violation of the Wild Birds Protection Act. 
As a consequence of this policy, the Kestrel, Sparrow 
Hawk, and Merlin are the only remaining resident 
Hawks, and these are rapidly becoming rarer. 
The larger species, the Peregrine Falcon, Buzzards, 
and Harriers, now only known as stragglers, are shot 
or trapped immediately they appear. Owls on most 
shootings fare little better, whilst the Magpie and Jay 
are in some districts almost extinct. From the game- 
preserver’s somewhat limited point of view, the slaughter 
of some of these birds may be justifiable; but what 
excuse can be offered for the destruction of the 
Common and Honey Buzzards, Owls, Cuckoo, and 
Goatsucker? Pole-traps, primarily designed for the 
capture of Hawks, are often responsible for the linger- 
ing death of Ring Ousels, Cuckoos, and other innocent 
birds. On trout-streams Kingfishers and Herons are 
persecuted regardless of the law, and any rare bird 
is shot either upon mere suspicion or out of pure 
wantonness. 
Although the preservation of game is prejudicial to 
many birds, the fact must not be overlooked that 
others owe to the practice many advantages which they 
could not otherwise enjoy. The destruction of birds 
of prey on account of the harm they do, or are alleged 
to do, to game, contributes materially to the welfare of 
many passerine species. The abundance of Thrushes 
