108 EXCESS OF SMALLER VERMIN. 



serious depredations in the barns and stack-yards ; 

 and although every means has been resorted to in 

 order to destroy them, they still continue to be a 

 great annoyance. 



A similar circumstance took place in the pre- 

 serves at Kew, where the vermin have been des- 

 troyed. The rats have become so numerous in the 

 grounds of that place, that I have seen regular 

 warrens of them. It is, I think, evident that had 

 not the assigned enemies of these vermin been 

 destroyed, they would not have increased to the 

 extent they have done. 



In places where Swallows have been wantonly 

 driven away by shooting at them, much injury 

 has been occasioned to hop-plants and fruit trees, 

 by too great an increase of insects. Farmers are 

 now beginning to discover this, and also to be aware 

 that Rooks,, so far from being injurious to them, are 

 among their best friends. They destroy the wire- 

 worm in great quantities, as well as the grubs of 

 cockchafers, and those of the long-legged gnat 

 (Tibula oleracea) and other larvae, which are very 

 injurious to the roots of corn. A gentleman, who 

 farms to a considerable extent, lately informed me, 

 that in those parts of his farm which were most 

 frequented by pheasants, the wire-worm was not 

 to be found, while in other places his corn was 

 nearly destroyed by that grub. The crops of 

 Pheasants are sometimes found completely filled 



