202 Destroying Vermin in small Gardens. 



years past ; and, now that the utility of the invention is so demon- 

 strable, other overseers are gradually following in the rear. 

 Yet there are many country church-yards where such a thing 

 is altogether unknown ; and my object in sending you this ac- 

 count is, to make the boxes known to gardeners, who, if they 

 approve of them, will, I have no doubt, recommend them to the 

 attention of the clergyman of the church which they attend. 

 Edinburgh, Oct. 29. 1841. 



Art. IV. On destroying Vermin in small Gardens, and on relative 

 Matters. By Charles Waterton, Esq. 



[The following letter was written in 1839, with no intention 

 of its appearing in print, in answer to some questions of ours 

 respecting the use of weasels, hedgehogs, birds, cats, &c, in 

 gardens. The questions were suggested by some papers in 

 Mr. Waterton's Essays on Natural History then just published, 

 in which the value of weasels and other animals in destroying 

 insects and vermin were pointed out by the author. Almost 

 immediately after Mr. Waterton's letter was written, that 

 gentleman went abroad, and we had not an opportunity of asking 

 his permission to publish it till his return last autumn. We 

 hope our readers will be as much pleased with it as we are.] 



You say, " you will send to a gardener in the country for a 

 weasel." You must send for two, male and female. A bachelor 

 weasel, or a spinster weasel, would not tarry four and twenty 

 hours in your garden. Either of them would go a sweethearting, 

 and would not return. 



You remark that your " hedgehogs soon disappeared." 

 No doubt : unless confined by a wall, they would wander far 

 away, and try to get back to their old haunts. You request 

 me " to suggest some place of shelter for them, to which they 

 might have recourse when attacked by the cats?" I cannot 

 believe that hedgehogs are ever attacked by cats. A garden, 

 well fenced by a wall high enough to keep dogs out, is a capital 

 place for hedgehogs. But there ought always to be two, man 

 and wife. 



Your " frogs and toads disappeared in a very short time, 

 notwithstanding a small cistern of water which was open to 

 them." They would have preferred a pond or ditch. No doubt 

 they left you in search of more agreeable situations. • 



" Were it not for the cats we should have plenty of birds." 

 Granted. Cats amongst birds are like the devil amongst us; 

 they go up and down seeking whom they may devour. You 



