THE VIRGINIAN OBTIX. 219 



men the benefit of their experience, a useless lot they would 

 have been, and England, as far as progression is concerned, 

 would have been far behind her present advanced position. 

 He who first introduced the idea of crossing our native 

 horse with the foreigner did an immense public service ; he 

 who introduced the old Spanish pointer deserves the grati- 

 tude of every sportsman, for doubtless our present beauties, 

 with all their speed and sagacity, have much of the blear- 

 eyed, bad-tempered, pottering old scoundrels' blood in their 

 veins ; and still further, to foreign climes we trace the 

 pheasant, the turkey, and so many more valuable animals 

 that to enumerate them would be tedious. However, I 

 believe that there are quadrupeds, birds, and fishes, still 

 strangers to England, that require only to be known to be 

 appreciated; and by placing their merits before the public, 

 some one may be found sufficiently patriotic to make the 

 attempt to naturalise them. 



Without more preamble, and to come at once to the 

 point, let me say that in my humble opinion there is no 

 bird more worthy of attention, and more deserving of the 

 honour of introduction to any land, than the American 

 ortix. Its numerous good qualities, together with its 

 description, I will to the best of my knowledge give, hoping 

 it may be the means of our yet seeing this little beauty 

 ornamenting European fields, and adding brilliancy and 

 variety to the game-bags of its numerous enthusiastic 

 sportsmen. The American ortix varies in weight from 

 eight to ten ounces, is erect in his walk, very handsome 

 in plumage, strong upon the wing, feeds principally upon 

 grain, grass seed, and ants, frequents indifferently brush, 



