212 RSMINISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAN". 



believe. In our rivers in England otters are become 

 very scarce, the bunting of which was a favourite pas- 

 time of our ancestors. On an estate where the game- 

 keepers have totally destroyed the owls, stoats, weasels, 

 and also the small short winged hawks, it has been found 

 that rats and mice have increased so prodigiously as to 

 do infinite mischief by the quantity of grain they de- 

 vour in the corn stacks ; so that the farmer has sometimes 

 two annoyances to complain of, in the loss of his crops 

 from his premises being overrun with the above vermin, 

 and in his fields by being overstocked with game. 



It would be absurd to suppose for a moment that the 

 mania for falconry which existed all over Europe three 

 or four centuries ago could have the slightest chance of 

 returning ; but let us hope that this delightful and 

 manly sport may once more be revived, and that the 

 falconer with his hawk and spaniel may again be seen 

 in search of his quarry. 



Another cause of destruction to many rare . species of 

 animals and birds is the employment of persons to pro- 

 cure them for public and private museums ; however, 

 this is trifling when compared to the unceasing war car- 

 ried on by gamekeepers. As a proof of this, it -was 

 mentioned in the " Field " newspaper that in Devon- 

 shire, where the nightingales never migrate, in the spring 

 of 1858, a gentleman, to his great siirprise, heard one 

 singing melodiously in a bush near his house. One 

 would naturally suppose that he would have been 

 enchanted with the melody of the charming songster ; 

 but such was not the case, for he went into his house for 

 his gun, and shot the nightingale, merely to have him 

 stuffed ! ! 



In 1686 Blome published a work under the title of 



