The Plague of Field Mice, by Sir Walter Elliot. 457 



visitation were discussed at the next meeting of the Club, on the 

 1st of June. Much weight was not attached to the popular ex- 

 planation that it was owing to the destruction of vermin for the 

 preservation of game, because no more hawks, owls, weasels, &c, 

 had been destroyed than usual. More importance was attached 

 to the absence of "black-frosts" during the last few years, 

 which in a hard season kill the mice in their superficial holes. A 

 curious coincidence was observed by one or two members, be- 

 tween the abundance of mice in some places, where moles had 

 been well nigh extirpated and their scarcity where these were 

 plentiful, but this was disputed by others, and cases in which it 

 did not apply were adduced. The second theory was the one 

 most generally accepted, but at the same time an opinion was 

 expressed, that "farmers and game preservers should be careful 

 not to destroy the natural enemies of the mice."*' 



The conclusion at which the Club arrived, was in the main, no 

 doubt, the true one. But too little weight was attached to the 

 two other explanations mooted, It may have been, and probably 

 was, quite true that the destruction of vermin, for the protection 

 of game, had not been greater of late than usual. The fact is, 

 there was no occasion for it. So successfully has the war against 

 birds and beasts of prey been waged for a long period, that as 

 Naturalists well know, several of the most useful indigenous 

 species have been wholly or well-nigh extirpated. f The 



* Hawick Advertiser, June 3rd, 1876. 



f The rooting out of raptorial birds has been followed by other ill results. 

 Wood-pigeons have increased to a mischievous extent, and the grouse dis- 

 ease is attributed by competent judges to the same cause. The buzzard, be- 

 sides devouring mice to a large amount " is just the kind of instrument 

 wanted," says Mr Robert Gray (Birds of Scotland), "to clear off sickly 

 young birds, which, on arriving at maturity, yield a degenerate offspring. 

 Of somewhat sluggish habits, it does not care to interfere with strong-winged 

 birds, being content with those that, through wounds or a naturally feeble 

 constitution, are unable to save themselves. Thus strong birds only are 

 left and a healthy breed is secured ." 



The same may be said of other slow-flying kinds, as the marsh harrier 

 and hen harrier (the name of which in Gaelic is lueh shealgair, or mouse - 

 hawk). These, with the useful glead, have entirely disappeared from the 

 Border districts; and the kestrel, "that friend to the farmer," whose 

 mouse-destroying propensities are so well described by "Waterton, is becoming 

 rare. 



Of quadrupeds, the harmless badger is no longer a denizen of our hills, 



