156 WOODLAND CREATURES 



of this hawk and other birds of prey by game 

 preservers is, in my opinion, a mistake, as these 

 species have their place in the economy of 

 Nature, helping to keep down the numbers of 

 the smaller birds, such as the blackbird, and 

 preventing their undue increase, which, as fruit 

 growers are only too well aware, is a serious 

 matter in certain districts. 



(The Sparrow Hawk, Accipiter nisus, Linn., is 

 generally distributed throughout Europe, and shows 

 little variation on the Continent or in this country, 

 so there is no need to mention sub-species.) 



