SINGULAR DETECTION VERMIN. 173 



of the pigeons and costs. There is, however, a 

 bye-law among the fancy, that a groat shall redeem 

 a trapped pigeon. But suppose the stray should 

 be a valuable bird, worth many pounds ? 



The following singular detection of a thief oc- 

 curred on a late examination at Queen's Square, 

 Westminster : Mr. Bepy, in the Wandsworth 

 Road, had his pigeon-house robbed. A known 

 thief was stopped on the road with six fancy pigeons 

 in his possession, by Sergeant Reardon of the police, 

 and taken before the magistrates, but no evidence 

 appearing against him, he was discharged, and suf- 

 fered to take away the birds, which he claimed as 

 having purchased them. Cooper, an officer of the 

 court, being somewhat up to the pigeon fancy, and 

 seeing them above the common sort, purchased them, 

 and very commendably determined to find out the 

 real owner, which he effected in the following in- 

 genious mode. Selecting a fine bald-head, he at- 

 tached a note to its foot, with his address, and then 

 threw up the pigeon, which instantly flew to its own 

 home, and was recovered by its owner, who returned 

 it to Cooper, making him a present of the half- 

 dozen as a reward for his sagacity. 



On conclusion of the subjects of the feathered race, 

 I have a few notes to make relative to the VERMIN 

 which infest the country, and are unavoidably so de- 

 structive to the eggs and young of game, and occasion- 

 ally to those of domestic poultry. These are too well 

 known to need much attention here, as to their 

 names or description viz. the stoat polecat wea- 

 sel marten cat : together with most birds of prey, 

 i 3 



