630 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE, 



by the lists of food I have given in my account of 

 each bird : these lists I have partly made out from 

 what I have been able to gather from the writings of 

 others, and partly from observations I have been 

 able to make myself, either by actual dissection or 

 by watching the birds feed. In this way I have en- 

 deavoured to state, as fairly as possible, most of the 

 benefits conferred or the peccadilloes committed, 

 some of these latter indeed by the most useful of 

 the birds ; for with them, as amongst Christians, it 

 would certainly be difficult to pick out any perfectly 

 blameless, and perhaps equally so to pick out any 

 entirely mischievous without some redeeming points. 

 It is always upon the balance of good or mischief 

 done that we must decide whether the birds gene- 

 rally or individually are to be considered our 

 feathered friends or foes. I have therefore, as I 

 went on, tried to lay such facts before my readers, 

 so far as the Birds of Somersetshire are concerned, 

 as would enable them to form their own judgment, 

 and in doing so I have always tried to bear in mind 

 Othello's injunction, 



" Nothing extenuate, 

 Nor set down aught in malice." 



