CH. XXXI. DESTRUCTION OF VERMIN. 177 



animals and birds. In this country, for instance, 

 we can no more afford to allow hawks and crows, 

 foxes and weasels, to flourish and increase, how- 

 ever picturesque and beautiful they may be, than 

 we could afford to allow poppies or other useless 

 but ornamental wild-flowers to overrun our corn- 

 fields. 



A pair of peregrine falcons take possession of 

 a rock — they will issue out as regularly as the 

 morning appears to search for grouse, partridges, 

 or other birds, which form the food of man. It is 

 the same with other hawks; and we well know that 

 crows destroy more game than all the shooters in 

 the kingdom. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary 

 to keep down the numbers of these marauders as 

 much as possible. 



I cannot say that I am at all anxious to see 

 our island entirely clear of what all game -pre- 

 servers call " vermin." There is more beauty and 

 more to interest one in the flight and habits of a 

 pair of falcons than in a whole pack of grouse ; 

 and I regret constantly to see how rare these birds, 

 and eagles, and many others, are daily becoming, 

 under the influence of traps, poison, and guns. 

 The edict which has gone forth against them is 

 far too comprehensive and sweeping, and many 

 perfectly innocent birds go to swell the game- 



VOL. II. N 



