BIRDS AND BIRDS. 153 



Many of our more vigorous species, as the butcher- 

 bird, the cross-bills, the pine grosbeak, the red-pole, 

 the Bohemian chatterer, the shore-lark, the long- 

 spur, the snow-bunting, etc., are common to both 

 continents. 



Have the Old World creatures throughout more 

 pluck and hardihood than those that are indigenous 

 to this continent ? Behold the common mouse, how 

 he has followed man to this country and established 

 himself here against all opposition, overrunning our 

 houses and barns, while the native species is rarely 

 seen. And when has anybody seen the American 

 rat, while his congener from across the water has 

 penetrated to every part of the continent ! By the 

 next train that takes the family to some "Western 

 frontier, arrives this pest. Both our rat and mouse 

 or mice are timid, harmless, delicate creatures, com- 

 pared with the cunning, filthy, and prolific specimens 

 that have fought their way to us from the Old World. 

 There is little doubt, also, that the red fox has been 

 transplanted to this country from Europe. He is 

 certainly on the increase, and is fast running out the 

 native gray species. 



Indeed, I have thought that all forms of life in the 

 Old World were marked by greater prominence of 

 type, or stronger characteristic and fundamental qual- 

 ities, than with us, coarser and more hairy and 

 virile, and therefore more powerful and lasting. This 

 opinion is still subject to revision, but I find it easier 

 to confirm it than to undermine it. 



