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a day or two. He is much more wary, perches on a 

 tree and surveys the scene, or hovers to mark his 

 prey, darts upon it with unerring aim, and is then off 

 like an arrow. The least movement alarms him, and 

 he suspects any unusual object. If fired at and missed, 

 it takes some ingenuity to get him. Fortunately, he 

 does not take young pheasants after they are about a 

 fortnight old, in this being unlike the sparrow-hawk, 

 which takes them till they are as large as he is fit to 

 carry. Still, I do not advocate the destruction of this 

 beautiful bird. Let the keeper find the nest, watch 

 what is brought to it, and use his judgment as to 

 whetheror not the death warrant should be pronounced. 



It is because some naturalists attempt too much 

 that they are not listened to. What is the good of 

 talking of ignorant keepers, and of saying that kestrels 

 do no harm to game, when most of these men have shot 

 them in the act ? 



The raven is the largest of the corvidse, and well 

 known for its cruel rapacity on sheep-farms. It is not 

 uncommon to find the eyes of sheep and lambs pecked 

 out on the hills where these birds are allowed to exist. 

 They are by no means so scarce as people believe, 

 being still found in large numbers in the mountainous 

 districts of Scotland. I have a couple of them as pets, 

 and dirtier or more cruel ones I never possessed. 

 Strange to say, some of our County Councils are pro- 

 tecting ravens, which act savours of ignorance on their 

 part as to the habits of these birds. The raven nests 

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