On the Persecution of Birds and Animals. 3903 



ally to the husbandman — what a destroyer of grubs ! But I did not 

 mean, in this paper, to show the comparative benefit or injury effected 

 by these or any particular species of the furred or feathered race ; for 

 this, let me refer the reader to those admirable ' Essays on Natural 

 History,' by Mr. Waterton (and particularly to the Essay on the Barn 

 Owl in the first series, and to those on the Rook in the first and 

 second series), to Bishop Stanley's little work on birds, to the 

 'Zoologist' passim, and other sources of similar information. My 

 object is merely to call attention to this fact, the perception of which, 

 I am truly glad to say, is daily gaining ground amongst the farmers 

 and others in this country, namely, that indiscriminate and wholesale 

 destruction, and in some cases, even the extirpation of certain animals 

 and birds formerly so much in vogue, is not expedient, but the con- 

 trary. Well-timed expostulation may, I think, very often remove 

 prejudices long entertained against them ; but nothing can be so con- 

 vincing to the farmer and gardener as actual proof, which dissection 

 enables us readily to offer. 



With the first class of persecutors, who wage systematic war with 

 certain of God's creatures which they suppose to be injurious to them, 

 I advocate gentle means, as most promising of success. They have, 

 or think they have, some reason for their enmity, and so deserve to be 

 met with courteous though earnest remonstrance, kind though firm 

 arguments, gentle though grave expostulation. Not so with the se- 

 cond class of persecutors, to whom I have already alluded, who wan- 

 tonly, and from the mere love of cruelty, never lose an opportunity of 

 destroying or injuring the animal creation: with these I would coun- 

 sel open and incessant war. Now, it is hardly necessary for me to 

 remind any observer, that such a general and cruel persecution of 

 animals, whether birds, beasts, or insects, does prevail in this country 

 to a very great extent, and especially among the lower orders ; every 

 one will know how the accidental appearance of any creature within 

 the grasp of the labourer, is usually the certain signal for its murder. 

 Who ever heard of a poor innocent field-mouse being spared, if he 

 strayed within the reach of the digger's spade ? Who ever heard of 

 the harmless hedgehog being suffered to remain rolled up in his 

 prickly coat till danger was over, and then to trot back to his cover, 

 without being kicked to death by the iron-clad boot of the hedger, or 

 crushed by some deadly weapon ? Who ever saw the poor snake suf- 

 fered to continue his path through the grass, unharmed by the vindic- 

 tive stone or the murderous stake ? Where is the man or boy that 

 gave back liberty to the poor bird which has accidentally fallen into 



