EXCESS OF SMALLER VERMIN. 109 



with them. Sparrows, also, although they will 

 occasionally feed on the ripe corn in the autumn, 

 are, during the rest of the year, most useful in 

 destroying immense quantities of caterpillars and 

 other insects, of which there would be too great 

 a redundancy except for these and other birds, 

 as green-linnets, chaffinches, titmice, &c. The 

 Starling and Jackdaw may also be classed amongst 

 the benefactors of the farmer. Owls, also, should 

 be encouraged about farm buildings, as well as 

 Weazles : they are more efficacious than cats, in 

 preventing too great an increase of rats and mice. 

 Even the loathsome Toad, as it is too generally 

 considered, has its use. A friend of mine took 

 seventeen earwigs from the maw of one of these 

 reptiles ; and there can be no doubt but that they 

 destroy a great number of injurious insects. 



Many people are apt, on perceiving some slight 

 present injury, to wage a sort of war against vari- 

 ous birds and quadrupeds ; forgetful and unmind- 

 ful of the many advantages which it was intended 

 they should derive from them. We may read in 

 the book of Ecclesiasticus 



" Oh, how desirable are all His works. All these things live 

 and remain for ever for all uses." 



But we may pursue this subject a little further. 

 In rivers where there has been so great a destruc- 

 tion of fish that few are left, insects which are bred 

 in the water abound so much on its surface at 



