44 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE GROUSE 



less, there is a mean to be attained in game preserving 

 as in all other things. Landowners exercise good 

 sense and decency if they tolerate a little ' vermin,' 

 both to gratify their own taste and to satisfy the 

 requirements of an interested public. But if they 

 allow their lands to swarm with ' vermin ' entirely un- 

 checked, they injure their neighbours and show a 

 want of propriety. 



' Vermin ' should not be extirpated root and 

 branch, but common sense requires that they should 

 be kept within reasonable numerical limits. In the 

 British Islands the birds of prey have become sadly 

 reduced in numbers of late years. Collectors of 

 blown egg shells a very undesirable class of men 

 offer fancy prices for the eggs of the honey buzzard 

 and hobby ; so that, if these species try to nest in 

 their old haunts, say in the New Forest, they are 

 ruthlessly pillaged and plundered without mercy. A 

 love of daring induces a good many young fellows to 

 storm the nests of the peregrines that nestle on the 

 most precipitous portions of our coasts. The eggs 

 are so handsome that they really constitute a pleasant 

 memento of a hazardous venture, while the young are 

 charming pets, and can be trained for the noble sport 

 of falconry. 



In many parts of Scotland, and, alas ! everywhere 



