120 



THE SMALLER QUADRUPEDS, CONSIDERED 



away birds, however, is to set boys or other persons to watch and sound a 

 wooden clapper all round the fruit, or seeds, which may be ripening, or 

 germinating. 



S7l. The destruction of birds is most judiciously effected by traps, or by 

 poisoning, because neither of these modes operates like the gun in scaring 

 away others. " The report of fire-arms is terrible to birds ; and, indeed, it 

 ought never to be heard in places in which you wish to encourage the pre- 

 sence of animated nature. Where the discharge of fire-arms is strictly 

 prohibited, you will find that the shiest species of birds will soon forget 

 their wariness, and assume habits which persecution prevents them from 

 putting in practice. Thus the cautious heron will take up its abode in the 

 immediate vicinity of your mansion ; the barn-owl will hunt for mice under 

 the blazing sun of noon, even in the very meadow w here the hay-makers are 

 at work ; and the widgeons will mix, in conscious security, with the geese, 

 as they pluck the sweet herbage on your verdant lawn ; where the hares 

 may be seen all the day long, now lying on their sides to enjoy the warmth 

 of the sun, and now engaged in sportive chase, unbroken in upon by enemies, 

 whose sole endeavour is to take their lives." (^Essays on Nat. Hist.., 8d ed. p. 

 251.) One of the simplest bird traps, and one also of a very effectual descrip- 

 tion, is to smear some of the twigs of the trees in which they are expected to 

 alight with bird-lime. Every country boy can suggest the modes of collect- 

 ing birds together by regular supplies of food, which may be poisoned by 

 arsenic, or netting may be so contrived as to be pulled down over the birds 

 and secure them. 



Sect. VI. — The smaller Quadi-iipeds, considered with reference to Horti- 

 culture. 



A few of these deserve notice, partly as the enemies of gardens, and partly 

 as the subduers of other garden enemies ; and in order that none deserving 

 notice may escape, we shall take them in scientific order. 



872. FercE ( Wild Beasts). — The badger (J/eles Cuv.) burrows in the ground 

 and comes abroad in the night to feed, devouring indiscriminately animal and 

 vegetable substances. The martin ( Jf ustela Foina L.) inhabits the vicinity of 

 houses, and ^veys on poultry, game, rats, moles, &c. It breeds in hollow trees. 

 The polecat {M. Putorius Z,.) is a common inhabitant of woods and planta- 

 tions in all parts of the country, and preys on game, poultry, eggs, and all 

 the smaller quadrupeds, amphibise, snails, slugs, and worms. The ferret 

 (31. Furo jL.), considered by some as the polecat in a domesticated state, 

 is employed to destroy rabbits and rats. The weazel (M. vulgaris Gmel.) 

 is common in the vicinity of barns and outhouses. It devours young birds, 

 rats, mice, moles, frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, snails, slugs, &c. Mr. 

 Waterton, after recommending this animal to farmers, says : " But of all 

 people in the land, our gardeners have most reason to protect the weazel. 

 They have not one single word of complaint against it — not even for dis- 

 turbing the soil of the flower-beds. Having no game to encourage, nor 

 fowls to fatten, they may safely say to it, ' Come hither, little benefactor, 

 and take up thy abode amongst us. We will give shelter to thy young ones, 

 and protection to thyself,* and we shall be always glad to see thee.' And 

 fortunate, indeed, are those horticultural enclosures which can boast the 

 presence of a weazel ; for neither mouse, nor rat, nor mole, can carry on 

 their projects with impunity whilst the weazel stands sentinel over the 



