general Zoological changes. 69 



A particular interest attaches to the ultimate condition or 

 fate of the migratory species of birds, on whose numbers the 

 degree of persecution to which they are subjected, in the dif- 

 ferent countries through which they pass, or where they pe- 

 riodically settle, must have a proportionate influence. The 

 methods of catching birds, have perhaps, in no country, ar- 

 rived at so high a state of perfection so early, or have been so 

 extensively used, as in Germany. Only within the last cen- 

 tury, the employment of the same means has been gradually 

 introduced, through the emigration of German hunters, all 

 over the eastern countries of Europe ; and in the proportion 

 as they have gained ground there, the produce of that sort of 

 sport has visibly diminished in this country, as respects the 

 species of the genus Turdas, that are either indigenous, or 

 visit us in autumn. The same observation applies to the sky- 

 larks, of which I have seen, about thirty years ago, above 

 3000 taken in nets, within a few minutes, at the commence- 

 ment of twilight, in a locality where 1000 are now reckoned 

 a good return. This sport, which can be exercised during a 

 few weeks in autumn, must, I am afraid, sooner or later, cease 

 altogether ; for if introduced in several more localities, over 

 which the lark passes, it will probably not repay the trouble 

 and expense. At present, too, the southern coast of the Black 

 Sea, where the flocks of our sky -larks arrive in such an ex- 

 hausted state, that the birds may be caught with the hand, 

 is very thinly peopled, and richly stocked with more valuable 

 game of different descriptions, wherefore the larks are there 

 comparatively safe ; and so are, for similar reasons, the quails 

 on the northern coast of Africa. On the other hand, the 

 woodcocks have a very bad chance, when, exhausted from the 

 fatigue of their flight over the Baltic, they alight on the south- 

 ern coast of that sea ; and so eager are the inhabitants of 

 the Holstein coast, to hit the right moment, that when it hap- 

 pens to coincide with divine service, the whole congregation 

 rush from the churches, and the minister goes home, without 

 taking offence at what he cannot prevent. Who can say how 

 thinly the larks or quails may be scattered over our fields, 

 when they shall once meet with the same sort of reception in 

 Asia Minor or Africa ? 



As to the extirpation or great diminution of particular spe- 

 cies in particular countries or spots, we may often determine 

 the conditions on which their present existence or numbers 

 depend, with sufficient precision to fix the subsequent condi- 

 tions through which they would become extinct, or greatly 

 reduced. The bustard, for example, being a very obnoxious 

 and now outlawed bird, would soon disappear in Germany, 



