136 GAME. 



others, which, unfortunately, he is compelled 

 to keep, to his own great inconvenience and 

 damage; these are the species of depreda- 

 tors, of which I have elsewhere spoken as 

 vermin. 



In England, the farmers experience one 

 inconvenience, from which, in this republican 

 country, we are exempted. There, laws are 

 in force, the design of which is to prevent the 

 common people from killing most wild animals, 

 and birds, fit for eating. These are preserved 

 for the benefit and pleasure of the higher 

 orders. And, indeed, as they form the great 

 inducement to the gentry to reside during 

 a part of the year on their estates, and so 

 spend some of their money in the country, 

 it would certainly be unwise to destroy or 

 extirpate entirely, even if the laws permitted 

 people so to do. The farmer, however, often 



