10 GAME AND ITS PROTECTION. 
as well as from his other qualities. Under this 
classification, then, we must include, not merely the 
ruffed and pinnated grouse, which, although the 
only species in our country coming within the 
ancient definition, furnish far less sport than many 
other varieties, but woodcock, snipe, quail, geese, 
ducks, bay birds, plover, and rail; without regard to 
the fact that all, except the quail, are migratory, 
and most were unknown to our British ancestry. 
It has been even supposed that the quail, in parts 
of our country free from deep rivers and impassable 
barriers, are also in a measure migratory; but this 
has no other foundation than their habit of wander- 
ing from place to place in search of food, and col- 
lecting late in the season, as they will do where they 
are numerous and undisturbed in large packs. 
To the protection of this vast variety of game it 
is the sportsman’s duty to address himself, in spite 
of the opposition of the market-man and restaurateur, 
the mean-spirited poaching of the pot-hunter, and 
the lukewarmness of the farmer. The latter can be 
enlisted in the cause; he has indirectly the objects 
of the sportsman at heart; and with proper enlight- 
enment will assist, not merely to preserve his fields 
from ruthless injury, but to save from destruction 
his friends the song-birds. 
As the true sportsman turns his attention only to 
legitimate sport, destroying those birds that are but 
little if at all useful to the farmer; and as at the 
same time, out of gratitude for the kindness with 
which the latter generally receives him, he is care- 
