74 INTRODUCTION. 



have decreased to a serious extent. The wooded 

 character of Britain in its ancient state, standing, 

 particularly in the northern parts, almost as an 

 uninterrupted primeval forest, has been destroyed, 

 and the favourite haunts of these wild birds have 

 been intruded on. But they chiefly owe their 

 diminution to the large premiums which are offered 

 for their destruction, on account of the havoc they 

 commit among the young of the flocks and to the 

 game. The extensive cultivation, and particularly 

 the drainage, in all parts has materially influenced 

 the numbers of both our stationary and migratory 

 water- fowl. The latter cause has worked most 

 destructively in the fenny districts of Lancashire 

 and Lincoln, and is gradually expelling species 

 which we can never hope to see replaced in other 

 stations. The multitudes of those birds were for- 

 merly very great, living and breeding unmolested 

 in parts now under cultivation and furnishing 

 the grains for our markets, " water-foules there 

 is so great store that the report thereof may 

 seeme to exceed all credite." We cannot calcu- 

 late the proportion of their decrease at less than 

 two-thirds. But our most to be regretted extir- 

 pations are among the Rasorial birds, the species 

 of which order, generally easily domesticated and 

 in a great measure granivorous, afford temptations, 

 from the price that is paid for them, to supply the 

 markets of our large towns as much sought for 



