Birds. 



8761 



reasoning, but by placing before him in the simplest form a series of 

 facts which he could neither " gainsay nor resist." " Facts are the 

 most unassuming yet the most convincing of all arguments ; they walk 

 through preconceived opinions, long- cherished conclusions, and 

 favourite hypotheses : they offer a less ostentatious but a far sterner 

 resistance, a far more invulnerable bulwark than any other form of 

 defence that truth can adopt; regarded as arguments, they have the 

 transcendant merit of convincing without irritating." 



In the ' Field' newspaper of August 15th, Mr. Edward Wilson, to 

 whom be all the honour such an attempt deserves, has endeavoured to 

 bring this subject before a large circle of the most intelligent sports- 

 men, farmers and gardeners of our country, by a lucid and admirable 

 summary of M. Prevost's labours ; in which summary he has been most 

 kindly assisted by M. Prevost himself. 



After a few pertinent observations on the important conclusion 

 deducible from the following facts, Mr. Wilson recommends that the 

 list be "cut out of the columns of the newspaper, and placed in some 

 conspicuous situation, in order to impress thoroughly upon the young 

 mind how valuable a friend we have in the little bird." Heartily con- 

 curring as I do in this proposition, I would go even farther : I would 

 advise that the list be reprinted in clear and legible type, and a copy 

 supplied to every school in the United Kingdom ; that it then be 

 pasted on a board and used as a reading lesson : it would thus confer 

 an incalculable benefit on society at large ; it would inspire a love of 

 scientific study ; it would teach a lesson of mercy ; and it would be 

 the ultimate source whence riches must eventually flow through every 

 channel in which the cultivation of the soil is concerned. May I 

 venture to hope that my readers will give the subject their earnest and 

 immediate attention. I have grown old and gray while pleading the 

 cause of the bird, and it is with the most sincere pleasure that I see 

 stronger and abler hands than mine undertaking a task in which I have 

 been able to make so little progress. 



Contents of the Stomachs of Birds during each Month 

 of the Year. 



Longeared Owl. January, mice ; February, the same ; March, the 

 same ; April, cockchafers ; May, rats, squirrels and cockchafers ; June, 

 meal-worms, beetles and shrew mice ; July, mice, ground and other 

 beetles ; August, shrew and other mice ; September, mice ; October, 

 the same ; November, the same. 



VOL. XXI. 3 M 



