Wild Birds Usefid and Injurious. 
659 
scarcity of insect attacks, it cannot be doubted that birds are 
one of the most important agencies in keeping them within 
bounds. But though birds are in this way such invaluable 
allies, ignorance of their habits and appearance is the rule, even 
amongst those whose mode of life brings them into constant 
contact with them. 
If, however, there is little real knowledge, there is plenty of 
prejudice ; and many beautiful and useful birds are sacrificed, 
because the wildest notions are prevalent as to the nature of 
their food and behaviour. Notable amongst the destroyers are 
gamekeepers, who ruthlessly kill many of the most interesting 
and beneficial species, including even such birds as the green 
woodpecker, which feeds largely on grubs destructive to timber, 
and the dusk-loving nightjar, whose whole life is employed in 
doing good ; not to mention owls and kestrels, whose services 
have recently obtained recognition in connection with the noto- 
rious plague of voles in Scotland. Gardeners also destroy many 
useful birds, including the tits, which are incessantly searching 
for and devouring numberless insects. It is curious that both 
gardeners and gamekeepers, though they have such excellent 
opportunities of studying the ways of birds, seldom take the 
trouble to watch them closely, or even to open the bodies of 
their victims for confirmation of their surmises as to the nature 
of their food. Amongst both classes of men there are, of course, 
many honourable exceptions, but the rule holds good, neverthe- 
less, and the majority are content to adopt the almost super- 
stitious beliefs of their predecessors. Bird-catchers are largely 
responsible for the diminution of several species, though their 
evil practices have been considerably checked by the Wild 
Birds’ Protection Act. The objectionable and semi-barbarous 
fashion of adorning hats and wearing apparel with feathers has 
caused the destruction of countless numbers of birds. Those 
who encourage this custom are indirectly guilty of cruelty, 
and it is difficult to refrain from giving utterance to certain 
obvious and most unpleasant deductions. The cruelty cannot 
be denied, as witness the following statement by Mr. Howard 
Saunders with regard to the butchery of kittiwakes for the 
sake of their plumage : “ In many cases the wings were torn 
off the wounded birds before they were dead, the mangled 
victims being tossed back into the water ; and we have seen 
hundreds of young birds dead, or dying of starvation in the 
nests, through want of their parents’ care.” This is only one 
instance, but similar ones might be multiplied, sufficient perhaps 
to make even a slave of fashion feel uncomfortable. 
In the case of our rarest birds another agency is at work. 
