INTRODUCTION. 



IT is not known, probably not now to be discovered, at 

 what period in the history of man, the pursuit of wild 

 animals which was originally undertaken by the semi- 

 barbarous tribes as a means of procuring animal food, or 

 for protection against formidable carnivora, which threat- 

 ened either their own existence or that of their flocks and 

 herds, as they gradually adopted stationary homes and 

 pastoral habits began to be regarded as a sport. But 

 from a very remote period of antiquity such has undoubt- 

 edly been the case; and so universally diffused in all 

 countries, so generally implanted in all hearts, does this 

 passion now exist, that we may assume it as certain, that 



