BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



Of the wild four-footed bird enemies some 

 are still left. By far the most clever of these 

 is the fox. However, they also destroy bird 

 enemies, and besides, the poor foxes are hunted 

 themselves. Except in very lonely, far-away 

 places, they are not left long in peace, their 

 skins are too fashionable in the world of 

 humans for life to be a very certain course for 

 them. Were it not for this they would be a 

 serious enemy to the birds, for they are adepts 

 in searching out and catching their prey. 

 They have been known to spring up to catch 

 small birds on the wing. But probably they 

 have done the greatest harm to Partridge and 

 Quail, tracking them to their coveys under the 

 snow. 



Mink have been a great menace to the birds 

 along the streams, but they have grown too 

 rare in most places now to do much harm. So 

 long as the value of their fur continues to in- 

 crease they are not likely to become very 

 numerous in a settled country. 



Weasels are one of the worst of the bird ene- 

 mies. They hunt by scent and are wonderful 

 climbers ; moreover, they kill for the sake of 

 killing. However, they prey upon poultry as 

 [176] 



