PREFACE 



THE Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, practically 

 the first recognition by the legislature of the national right 

 to use of the land for the benefit of the whole community, 

 appears opportune for referring to the natural and nurtured 

 creatures, called wild, that roam over the British Islands, 

 and concomitantly with mankind and domesticated animals 

 derive their subsistence directly or indirectly from the pro- 

 ducts of the soil. Some of these, by their habits and nature 

 of food, make for (called beneficial] others exert no decisive 

 influence on (termed neutral], and others again militate against 

 (called hurtful] the successful cultivation of crops, as repre- 

 sented in yields of animal and vegetable produce, upon which 

 depend the stamina and life of the nation. 



The object, therefore, of the present volume is to treat of 

 the chief wild and semi-wild vertebrates mammals, aves or 

 birds, reptiles and amphibians found in the British Islands 

 in relation to the cultivation of crops, and in accordance with 

 observation and experience from 1845 to 1907 inclusive. 

 These embrace the garden, allotment, small holding, farm, 

 and estate its woods, commons, moors, mountainous tracts, 

 and the waters of all to the foreshore of the sea. The cultures 

 adopted are gardening, farming, foresting, sporting, and 

 fishing. The practice of these pursuits is vested in the owner 

 or occupier of the land, while the " lord of the manor " exer- 

 cises certain rights, not only over the territory occupied by 

 himself, or granted to tenants for stipulated rents or services, 



B.N. xvii b 



