306 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



the hook. Here too the gun may be employed, and, 

 if left so late, both old birds may be shot as they come 

 to feed their young on the nest. Then after their demise 

 the killing of the young birds effectually encompasses 

 the destruction of the whole family, and rids many a 

 pheasant or partridge mother of some most dreaded 

 enemies. 



As previously remarked, Raven, Kite, Buzzards, Pere- 

 grine Falcon, Harriers, and Goshawk are now so rare in 

 most districts where game is extensively preserved that 

 they seldom enter into the calculations of many keepers. 

 In those places where the destructive tendencies of these 

 birds strictly need attention, the thinning-out process 

 may be well effected by trapping, or perhaps by means 

 of the gun. 



GROUND VERMIN. 



At first blush it might appear to some that by reason 

 of their powers of flight, crow, hawk, and falcon are 

 much better fitted to outlive a war of extermination 

 than are the four-footed pests of the partridge-manor 

 and the pheasant-covert. To a great extent, however, 

 such supposition would be erroneous. Certainly, winged 

 vermin of the sort indicated possess in remarkable degree 

 the ability to promptly and effectively rid themselves of 

 man's presence ; still, it must be remembered that in all 

 members of the weasel tribe, the senses of sight, smelling, 

 and hearing are extraordinarily developed, and that such 

 activity and strength as they display are seldom to be 

 found in like proportionate degree in animals of greater 

 size. 



THE Fox, Cam's vulpes. No one having a true 



