146 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



poison in the Mouse to kill a Dog was doubtful, 

 but the risk was great, so it was resolved that 

 henceforth no poison was to be used. Traps 

 and all other engines of destruction are employed 

 to kill the Rats, shooting them on a summer 

 evening being a favourite sport. 



The Hooded Crow is not to be found in the 

 gamekeeper's larder here, as he is rarely seen ; 

 and the croaking corbie wisely keeps to the 

 mountain, where he can see about him, never 

 venturing so low down. But why persecute and 

 destroy the species mentioned, and allow the 

 Rook and Jackdaw to go free ? Beyond the few 

 examples tied with strings to long sticks, and 

 floating in the breeze amongst the pheasant coops, 

 there are no Rooks or Daws in the pillory. Now, 

 these two are the most inveterate robbers and 

 thieves of all the feathered marauders they will 

 come close up to the door and steal eggs, carry off 

 young chickens, fly off a short distance, decapitat- 

 ing and bolting them, and returning for more. 

 The number of eggs destroyed by these feathered 



