THE AFFORESTER'S INDEX.
Afforesters have incidentally discovered a number of nice points in natural history. For example, a two-inch mesh has proved quite useless against young rabbits, which can wriggle through holes that look much too small for their fat bodies. In particular districts rabbits have learnt particular and peculiar tricks. Where they remain old-fashioned, even low wire will keep them out, but there is a new school which, so it is asserted, have learnt the art of climbing fairly high wire, though I do not know whether they have ever been caught in the act. In one small plantation I have inspected the trees were chiefly damaged by mice, whose attacks were not discovered till weeks of vain search were spent in looking for other culprits. Both birds and beasts were suspected. Perhaps mice rival even the grey rat in general destructiveness, though in England they will not, as in Australia, eat our furniture and bedding ; and this evidence supplies yet further motive for the preservation both of birds—kestrels and owls especially—and of vermin, including weasels and foxes. * * * *
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