212 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



has hitherto been the case. As I have observed, 

 they are birds which are not only absolutely in- 

 offensive, but render us good service in destroying 

 an immense amount of vermin, such as mice, 

 etc., and they are also handsome and interesting. 

 Every living thing is nowadays sacrificed to the 

 peripatetic collector, despite the facilities afforded 

 to all classes for the examination of objects of 

 natural history in the many museums which are 

 open for that purpose free of charge ; it is 

 surely more interesting to study the habits of 

 the living creature. I make it a rule never to 

 take the life of any bird or beast unless it may 

 be in the way of legitimate sport, or for the 

 purpose of destroying them as vermin. There 

 are some people who, so long as they have a gun 

 in hand, cannot refrain from shooting at every 

 bird which comes within their reach, and not 

 infrequently they are those for whom there is 

 the least excuse to be made. 



