INTRODTC TORY OKSrCRVATIOXS. 19 



regard and violate all hiws, even laws of their own making — the 

 second, the apathy of the rural population with respect to game, 

 and the error into which they have fallen of regarding all game- 

 laws as passed to their detriment, and for the pleasure of the dwel- 

 lers in cities — the tliird is, the dishonest gluttony of all classes 

 in the cities, with the exception of a few sportsmen — and the 

 last, horresco referens, the selfishness and want of union among 

 themselves of genuine sportsmen. 



With regard to the first of the reasons laid down here, it may 

 be taken as a matter of fact that no man, boy or fool, in the coun- 

 try, abstains from killing game, in or out of season, for fear of the 

 law ; and that no farmer or landholder will ever give information 

 against the violation of this law, though so far is he from being 

 noH-litigious, that one of the principal pleasures of his life is the 

 sueing his neighbors for the smallest possible sums. The ex- 

 ceeding fondness of the population in general for recourse to civil, 

 and their equally evident disregard of criminal, law, is one of the 

 phenomena of the country, and the age in which we live. 



Secondly ; the apathy of the farmer arises naturally enough 

 from this, that all he has heard of game-laws in foreign lands is 

 in connection with feudal rights, individual privileges, and nomi- 

 nal distinctions, which are certainly everywhere more or less 

 vexatious, and in some places really injurious to classes — al- 

 though far less so than Americans are led to believe by the 

 demagogue orators and editors from whom they obtain their in- 

 formation on this topic, as on most others of the internal eco- 

 nomy of foreign countries. 



It is needless to state that the game-laws of the United States 

 have no such bearing whatsoever ; and are intended solely to pro- 

 tect the animals in question, during the periods of nidification, 

 incubation, and providing for the youthful broods. 



Remarkably enough, it has so happened in this country, ow- 

 ing to the non-residence of wealthy and otiose men in the rural 

 districts of the Northern States, that until very recently all ap- 

 plication for and amendments of game-laws have emanated from 

 the dwellers in cities ; and, for this obvious reason, that the coun- 



