68 SPRING-TIDE. 



blindly wrong. There is some reason for 

 their hostility to the crow and the pie ; 

 but the war of extermination which they 

 carry on against many of the feathered 

 race, can only be excused on the ground 

 of ignorance and their attachment to old 

 notions and prejudices, from which the 

 better educated of the last century were 

 not free. For instance, you will find 

 them hereabouts destroy that beautiful 

 and sagacious bird the starling, because 

 they believe it kills the young pigeons. 

 Now, the starling is an insectivorous bird, 

 which must devour myriads of destruc- 

 tive creatures every season. They must 

 be welcome visitors to flocks of sheep, 

 about which we generally see them con- 

 gregated, sometimes running on their backs 

 and freeing them from the foul, ugly, and 

 annoying tick which so often troubles that 

 animal. Another bird, which is an espe- 

 cial favourite with me, is much persecuted 



