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balance of nature which the above and other causes have so seriously disturbed. 
Opinions may differ as to what may be properly considered “ vermin,” 
the question being largely influenced by the sort of game a sportsman 
chiefly pursues; but as the matter cannot be discussed in a compilation 
of this kind, it has been considered sufficient to give a list of the chief 
game destroyers and leave them to be dealt with at the discretion of the 
sportsman. 
The Leopard is one of the greatest foes to the preservation of deer which, 
largely owing to his depredations, have been almost, if not quite, exterminated 
in many parts of India. In any properly considered scheme for preservation 
by the establishment of sanctuaries, close seasons, &c the Leopard must 
therefore be kept within reasonable numbers; and of all the leopards the 
Ounce or Snow Leopard (Felia uneia) is the most inveterate and success¬ 
ful destroyer of the game to be found in the higher elevations of the 
Himalayas. 
The Smaller Cats *—-There can be no doubt as to the propriety of classing 
all the smaller Felidce as vermin in every sense of the term, and in this cate¬ 
gory are included all the cats mentioned earlier in this book. 
Wolves and Wild Dogs *—These destroy an immense quantity of game, and of 
all the pests which operate against successful big game shooting, there is none 
