12 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



described. I can say, however, that if any bird- 

 nesters or other destroyers of bird life are found 

 within the well-protected grounds, they will receive 

 a very unwelcome or inhospitable reception. 



If birds are given a fair chance to breed on such 

 an estate as the one in question, it is remarkable to 

 find how great is the variety of species to be found. 

 It would appear that if one species of birds are able 

 to breed unmolested, others find out this reassuring 

 fact, and in time the place becomes a naturalist's 

 paradise. I found kestrels and owls among the many 

 birds breeding here. The nest of the latter was in a 

 shrubbery, and this was full of smaller bird life ; while 

 on the estate over which the kestrels roamed, birds 

 were found in the greatest and most charming abun- 

 dance. Why is it that some people will destroy all 

 birds of prey ? I can assure them from practical 

 experience they will have more and stronger birds in 

 their grounds if they allow the kestrel and owls to 

 multiply in moderation. The weaker birds, which 

 are less able to take care of themselves, will be 

 thinned out and the stronger ones will remain. 

 Natural selection, together with the survival of the 

 fittest, will bring about an unlooked-for but welcome 

 result in this case ; so that sportsmen, if they want 

 sport, should encourage a few birds of prey to breed 

 in their grounds. By this I mean that, as a result, 

 there will be strong, healthy birds ; and all sportsmen 



