262 TOUR IN S UTHERL AN DSHIRE. 



of signs and observation carried on between animals of 

 different kinds, which is as perfectly understood by them as 

 if they could communicate by words. 



It is difficult to determine how far we are right in en- 

 deavouring utterly to destroy one kind of animal or bird in 

 order to increase another species. Nature, if left to herself, 

 keeps up a fair equilibrium and proportion amongst all her 

 productions ; and, without doubt, if the world were left to it- 

 self without the interference of mankind, there would never 

 be an undue proportion of any one kind of living creature : 

 the birds of prey would keep down the granivorous birds 

 from increasing till they devoured all the fruits of the earth ; 

 and the carnivorous birds and beasts would never entirely 

 extirpate any other species, as their own numbers would be 

 lessened by want of food before this could happen ; besides 

 which, we see that unless artificial means are resorted to, the 

 number of living animals always bears proportion to, and is 

 regulated by the supply of food which offers itself ; and, as 

 these supplies fail, there is a natural tendency "for the con- 

 sumers to cease increasing, or to betake themselves to other 

 regions. But when man comes in as an active agent, he 

 gradually extirpates all beasts and birds of prey for the 

 purpose of protecting and causing to increase the weaker but 

 more useful animals and birds. In this country, for instance, 

 we can no more afford to allow hawks and crows, foxes and 

 weasels, to flourish and increase, however picturesque and 

 beautiful they may be, than we could afford to allow poppies 

 or other useless but ornamental wild flowers to overrun our 

 corn 'fields. 



A pair of peregrine falcons take possession of a rock 

 they will issue out as regularly as the morning appears to 

 search for grouse, partridges, or other birds, which form the 

 food of man. It is the same with other hawks ; and we well 

 know that crows destroy more game than all the shooters in 

 the kingdom. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to keep 

 down the numbers of these marauders as much as possible. 



I cannot say that I am at all anxious to see our island 

 entirely clear of what all game-preservers call " vermin." 

 There is more beauty and more to interest one in the night 

 and habits of a pair of falcons than in a whole pack of grouse; 

 and I regret constantly to see how rare these birds, and 

 eagles, and many others, are daily becoming, under the in- 

 fluence of traps, poison, and guns. The edict which has gone 



