EXTERMINATION 227 
preservers, and this to their own cost, as the ravages of the 
Grouse-disease testify! To the reclaiming of waste lands, the 
enclosure of open spaces, and the greater care bestowed on timber 
trees (by removing those that being decayed are much infested 
with insects) must, however, be attributed the extermination or 
rarification of far more species than the direct action of man has 
been able to effect.? Still what we lose in one direction we gain 
in another, and while Birds-of-Prey and Wild-fowl are being 
banished, the smaller denizens of the woodlands, gardens, and 
arable fields are unquestionably more numerous than ever.* The 
change is, of course, not satisfactory to the naturalist or to the 
lover of wild scenery, but to some extent it seems inevitable; yet 
well-directed laws for the protection of those birds which suffer 
worst in the unequal contest may delay their impending fate, and 
preserve to our posterity the most pleasing features of many a 
landscape and the grateful opportunities of studying many a 
curious and interesting species. Thanks, perhaps, to the stronger 
constitution of most Palearctic birds, the votaries of “ acclimatiza- 
tion” have obtained little success in these islands, for the exotic 
species which it has been attempting to introduce have, almost 
without exception, failed to establish themselves. The efforts 
made in some British colonies*—especially in Australasia, apart 
from the sinfulness already mentioned in regard to the Rabbit- 
plague—are unfortunately too likely not to be successful ; and, 
when their own peculiar Fauna has been half extirpated, our fellow- 
subjects at the Antipodes will probably have good reason to lament 
and even of the Thames. From the same writer (Hist. Nat. Oyseaux, p. 131) it 
would seem that at that time (1555) they, and Ravens also, were protected by 
law in the City! The Hen-Harrier’s name is enough to shew what was thought 
of it in days when it abounded. 
1 In Transbaikalia, the Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, which was 
formerly common, has of late been completely exterminated, through persecution 
prompted by the desire to obtain its feathers, which are highly valued.— Von 
Middendorff, Szbir. Reise, iv. p. 851. 
2 The extermination from Europe of the FRANCOLIN, Francolinus vulgaris, has 
been treated at some length by Lord Lilford (/dis, 1862, p. 352) without his 
being able to assign any cause for the fact. 
3 Report from the Select Committee on Wild Birds’ Protection, dc. (House of 
Commons), 1873. Appendix, pp. 188-193. 
4 Unintentionally, it would seem, a carnivorous Marsupial has been in- 
troduced into the island of Dominica and there appears to have extirpated one of 
the Prerrets which formerly bred numerously in the mountains, where it was 
called the ‘‘Diablotin” and is known to have been Mstrelata hesitata (cf. 
Feilden, Trans. Norf. Norw. Nat. Soc. v. pp. 24-39). The intentional intro- 
duction of the Mongoose is said to be likely to effect the destruction there of 
the allied species @. jamaicensis. It has already greatly diminished the 
numbers of “ John-Crow” VULTURES, by the destruction of their eggs or young, 
for the nests are placed on the ground. 
