"TRESPASSERS" in 



property of the nation at large ; and if any section of 

 the community claims special privilege to make away 

 with a part of it, we would know upon what authority. 



It has for centuries past been the custom of a 

 minute portion of our population to preserve game- 

 birds for shooting and sale, otherwise called sport. 

 This pursuit they follow with that lack of individuality 

 which is perhaps their chief characteristic as a class. 

 What they do, they all do together, and in the same 

 way. This uniformity, due only to imitation, has 

 the effect of thoroughness. 



That men should be at pains to preserve non- 

 indigenous species such as the Pheasant, or selected 

 indigenous species such as the Red Grouse, would 

 be matter for congratulation if we did not know that 

 any interference with so finely balanced a scheme as 

 Nature, starts a chain of consequences beyond man's 

 knowledge and control. No sooner has he begun to 

 cultivate Pheasant, Grouse, and Partridge in most 

 cases to the deterioration of the birds themselves, as 

 could scarcely fail to be the case than he finds 

 himself in opposition to their natural enemies, 

 feathered or furred, outnumbering them as ten to 

 one. Immediately he draws up an Expurgatory 

 Index comprising among birds: Jay, Magpie, 

 Jackdaw, Carrion and Hooded Crows, Raven, 

 Hen-harrier, Marsh-harrier, Montagu's Harrier, 

 Buzzard, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Sparrow- 

 Hawk, Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Hobby, Merlin, 

 Osprey, Honey-buzzard, &c., not to dilate upon the 

 equally selfish slaughter of Osprey and Kingfisher 

 by fish preservers, and the perfectly insane destruction 

 of mousing Kestrels and Owls by those who have 



