142 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- 



