VERMIN 205 



5. Naturally destructive to young game, but 

 innocuous on partridge ground owing to their 

 absence in summer. 



The hooded crow (Corvus cornix). 

 The merlin (Falco aesalon). 



6. Doubtful cases probably do little real 

 harm. 



The squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has been 



known to take the young and eggs 



of game. 

 The badger (Meles meles) omnivorous, 



may destroy nests. 

 The otter (Lutra lutra) sometimes takes 



rabbits and possibly game. 

 The water-hen (Gallmula chloropus) said 



to suck eggs. 



7. Harmless, though sometimes persecuted. 



The water-vole or water-rat (Arvkola 



amphibius). 

 The nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). 



The view is often expressed that game- 

 preservers are unduly handicapped in 

 their dealings with vermin, by the legal 

 protection now accorded to many of our 

 rarer birds and the statutory abolition of 

 the poletrap. It is hard to endorse any 

 such opinion, for the County Councils 

 may with justice be said to have exercised 

 the powers conferred on them by the 



