134 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



specimens on exhibition might have been spared 

 such a degradation without hurt to any one. 

 That blood-thirsty, insatiable murderer, the Stoat, 

 I would not defend, but there are such birds as 

 the Sparrow-Hawk, and Kestrel, and the Tawny 

 Owl all here on view that well might be spared. 

 The Kestrel is a harmless bird so far as the game- 

 preserver is concerned. He is a Mouse, Beetle, and 

 Caterpillar feeder, although he may at times, when 

 pressed by hunger, strike down a Partridge, or a 

 wounded or ailing bird that he is able to over- 

 take. The Kestrel, from the number of mice 

 he destroys, is a true friend of the agriculturist. 

 The Sparrow-Hawk, which exists in very limited 

 numbers, is a more daring and powerful bird, and 

 will seize with unerring aim and hold fast anything 

 from a Sparrow to a Leveret. If plentiful, he is a 

 robber to be feared in a game preserve ; but his 

 kind are so sparsely distributed being shot down 

 whenever seen that they are likely to be ex- 

 terminated. 



I remember, many years ago, sitting alone on 



