214 WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



bird refuge can be made on almost any land 

 unsuited to agricultural purposes, that is partially 

 covered with trees, either virgin forest or second- 

 growth hardwood, or wild pasture overgrown with 

 bushes and containing some fresh water, preferably 

 a stream with pools or small ponds, and situated in 

 the vicinity of a river running north and south, the 

 favorite route of migratory birds. These condi- 

 tions can be found almost anywhere in New Eng- 

 land, in any of the states on the Atlantic coast and 

 in many states bordering large rivers, such as the 

 Hudson, Savannah, Potomac, Mississippi, Mis- 

 souri, Rio Grande or Sacramento. They are also 

 to be found in many portions of our very extensive 

 lake frontage. A wooded island is of course ideal, 

 because on such areas the vermin pest can be so 

 easily controlled. The following table illustrates 

 the marked effect of systematic killing of vermin 

 at a private preserve in England : 



VERMIN 



(Killed between the seasons of 1903 and 1904.) 



Rats . . . . . . . . '. . 5,959 



Stoats . . . ... . . . 270 



Weasels . . . ... . * . 271 



Hedgehogs . . ' . . . . -. 541 



Rooks . . . . . , . . . . 304 



Jays ........ . . \ 364 



Magpies . . . ,.... 2 



Jackdaws . 39 



Cats 154 



7,904 



