x GENERAL PREFACE 



of birds which keepers have hitherto re- 

 garded as harmful to game by destroying 

 eggs or young. Owls were commonly 

 singled out for slaughter. Now, an owl 

 may occasionally seize a young pheasant or 

 partridge ; but, whether it be the white 

 or the brown owl, its usual food consists 

 principally of rats, mice, moles, with 

 beetles and other insects. In fact the 

 value of the owl cannot be better stated 

 than in the words of Mr. Morris " He 

 who destroys an owl is an encourager of 

 vermin." Hawks have suffered severely at 

 the hands of both sportsmen and keepers. 

 " Shoot it : it's a hawk," is a shout often 

 heard during a day's shooting. Now if 

 the hawk happens to be a kestrel it is 

 almost a crime to kill it ; for the kestrel 

 is a vermin-destroying bird, and but rarely 

 attacks game. It lives on mice and in- 

 sects, such as beetles and caterpillars, and 

 consequently its life should be spared. 

 Those beautiful birds, jays and magpies, 



