76 MARCH 



where the death register of game and ' vermin ' has 

 been kept for so many years, or in such minute 

 detail, as at Lord Malmesbury's beautiful place, 

 Heron Court, near Christchurch. There are some 

 mournful entries in the following list of vermin 

 destroyed by the keepers on this estate during the 

 year 1852 : 



Squirrels, .... 220 



Jackdaws, . . . . 210 



Woodpeckers, ... 50 



Hedgehogs, .... 250 



Cats, 52 



Stoats, .... 90 

 Magpies, ) 



Jays, J ' 



Hawks, .... 60 



Eats, 300 



Total, . . 1327 



It would be hard to say which were the most 

 blameless in respect of injury to game woodpeckers 

 or hedgehogs ; the last named, it is to be feared, 

 still figure in the black list of most gamekeepers ; 

 but there is ground for belief that during the last 

 forty years the character of the yaffle has been 

 cleared from all suspicion. 



Indeed, there is hardly any bird which, by reason 

 of its insatiable activity in the pursuit of insects 



