450 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



depredations were so serious as materially to interfere with sheep farming. 

 The eagle cannot be said to be a desirable recruit to the ranks of the 

 flankers in a Grouse drive ; although he not seldom takes on himself this 

 duty, to the rage of the keeper and bewilderment of the birds. 



Of the hawk tribe all are occasionally destructive ; but it must 



Hawk-S 



not for a moment be supposed that all should therefore be destroyed. 



The kestrel or wind-hover probably does more good by killing mice and 

 rats than he does harm by the destruction of a few young Grouse. The buzzard 

 confines himself almost entirely to small birds, carrion, and ground game. 



The greater blackback gull is destructive both to eggs and young birds, 



and should not be allowed to infest any moor on which it is intended 

 Gulls. 



to preserve a stock of Grouse. 



The black-headed and common gulls are destructive to eggs in certain 

 localities ; this, however, must be regarded as an exception rather than as 

 the rule of their habit of life, for Grouse frequently nest and hatch out their 

 broods in the centre of breeding colonies of these birds. 



POACHERS. 



It has always been customary to divide poachers into two classes, the 

 TWO kinds professional poacher, who makes poaching a means of livelihood, and 

 er- the occasional poacher, who only takes game for his own consumption, 

 or to satisfy what is called his sporting instinct for the property of others. 



The professional poacher is a dangerous and undesirable member of the 

 community, and should receive no mercy. He is generally devoid of all the finer 

 feelings, and his sole object is to enrich himself by appropriating, 

 fessionai in the largest possible quantities, goods that are not his. He usually 

 belongs to the submerged class which is recruited from the ranks 

 of those who have gone under on account of their own shortcomings dis- 

 honesty, drink, or congenital laziness. 



In certain country towns and villages, especially those occupied by a 



mining or manufacturing population, poaching is not looked upon 



ing com- as a crime, but as a perfectly respectable and often remunerative 



munity. . 



means of occupying leisure time. When this feeling exists the task 

 of game preserving is a serious matter, and the preventative measures employed 



