106 PRESERVATION OF ANIMALS. 
shot. Among them may be enumerated the peregrine falcon, 
great bustard, raven, hoopoe, ruff, capercaillie, quail, and 
many others. 
Were it deeply impressed upon our minds that nothing is 
created without a purpose, and that the destruction of a single 
species of animal or plant may entail upon mankind the most 
serious loss and inconvenience, we should be more chary of in- 
dulging our murderous and destructive instincts. 
Happily, it is in our power, not only to preserve the species 
we have, but, by the acclimatisation of those of foreign countries, 
to increase them. This is now being done by France and some 
other nations. 
So serious has become the loss in France to agriculture by the 
wholesale destruction of birds, that the Corps Legislatif have 
been petitioned, that steps may be taken for the preservation of 
those birds that destroy insects detrimental to agriculture. The 
subject has been brought formally before the French Senate, and 
is now before the French Government in the form of a report. 
The Times remarks ‘that the poverty of the French harvest 
this very year, 1861, is attributed to the ravages of a particular 
worm, which it is the function of a certain bird to destroy.” 
From All the Year Round I have extracted the following re- 
lating to the report :— 
‘The inquiry has been conducted with an elaborate accuracy 
characteristic of French legislation. Insects and birds have been 
carefully classified, according to their several species ; their habits 
of feeding have been closely observed, and the results ascertained 
and computed. It has been concluded that by no agency, save 
that of little birds, can the ravages of insects be kept down. 
There are some birds which live exclusively upon insects and 
erubs, and the quantity which they destroy is enormous. There 
are others which live partly on grubs and partly on grain, doing 
some damage, but providing an abundant compensation. 
A third class, the birds of prey are excepted from the cate- 
gory of benefactors, and are pronounced, too precipitately, we 
think; to be noxious, inasmuch as they live mostly upon the 
smaller birds. 
