200 THE LIFE OF THE FIELDS. 



breed under semi-domestic conditions. The draining 

 of marsh -lands and levels began the exile of wild-fowl ; 

 and now the increasing preservation of trout adds to 

 the difficulties under which these birds strive to retain 

 a hold upon inland waters. The Thames is too long 

 and wide for complete exclusion ; but it is surprising 

 how few moorhens even are to be seen along the river. 

 Lesser rivers are still more empty, as it were, of life. 

 The great osier-beds still give shelter to some, but not 

 nearly so many as formerly. Up towards the spring- 

 heads, where the feeders are mere runlets, the scarcity 

 of wild-fowl has long been noticed. Hardly a wild- 

 duck is now seen ; one or two moorhens or a dabchick 

 seem all. Coots have quite disappeared in some 

 places : they are shot on ponds, having an ill reputa- 

 tion for the destruction of the fry of coarse or pond 

 fish, as well as of trout. Not all these changes, indeed, 

 are attributable to trout alone; but the trout holds 

 a sort of official position and leads the van. Our 

 southern rivers, with the exception of the Thames, are 

 for the most part easily preserved. 



They run through cultivated country, with meadows 

 or cornfields, woods or copses, and rarely far through 

 open, unenclosed land. A stranger, and without per- 

 mission, would often find it difficult to walk half a 

 mile along the bank of such a stream as this. Con- 

 sequently, if it is desired to preserve it, the riparian 

 owners can do so to the utmost, and the water-fowl 

 considered injurious to fish can as easily be kept down. 

 It is different in the north, for instance, where the 

 streams have a background of moors, mountains, tarns, 

 and lakes. In these their fastnesses birds find some 



