22 BIED LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



while sparrowhawk and kestrel, the natural checks on their 

 numbers, are ruthlessly destroyed, it may well happen they 

 become numerous past all indulgence, and an imperative 

 necessity arises to artificially readjust the balance. 



Those of our English birds of farm and garden most 

 usually regarded as harmful are as follows, and to their 

 names are attached a few notes on their principal food at 

 different seasons as shown by post-mortem examination. 

 Some of the information is taken from Mr. Groom Napier's 

 admirable little work, "The Food, Use, and Beauty, of 

 British Birds," some from my own observation, and the rest 

 from researches of various observers, reports of the Canadian 

 Agricultural Commission, and the like. 



The first birds in the usual sequence are 



The fly -catchers, of whom nothing but good can be said. 

 All three kinds visiting England, live during the whole twelve 

 months on gnats, " those motes that sting," on hymenopterous 

 insects, and a host of diminutive enemies to cattle and 

 plant life. 



The thrushes, coming next, some six species in all, are not 

 so unquestionably innocent. 



The missel thrush, relies during December, January, Feb- 

 ruary, on holly and mistletoe berries, on haws, earthworms, 

 slugs, snails and anything of the nature he can pick up. 

 This is varied all through the summer by many caterpillars 

 and a little garden fruit, especially gooseberries. In the 

 autumn he has to return to wild berries, and is keen on 

 snails and slugs. 



Fieldfares and redwings are not here long enough to do 

 any mischief. They pillage the hawthorn hedges and ivy 

 bushes of Nature's alms, and take a certain number of snails, 

 etc. 



Song thrusJies have been well abused, nor are we prepared 

 to say the abuse is undeserved. They are unquestionably 

 fond of fruit, currants being their chief delight ; but work 

 energetically in our behalf at all other seasons. A friend 



