SPORT ABROAD 



THERE is a popular belief current among wild- 

 fowlers that, owing to various causes, the numbers of 

 migratory geese, widgeon, and ducks which winter 

 with us have been steadily diminishing for many 

 years past. To some extent, no doubt, the climatic 

 conditions prevailing in northern and eastern 

 Europe, whence our supply of these birds is mainly 

 drawn, have influenced their abundance or scarcity 

 in certain seasons ; but from time immemorial these 

 unequal visitations have always been noticeable. 

 During protracted frosts, when the winter is very 

 severe beyond the North Sea, and the whole of 

 western Europe is affected thereby, wild-fowl are 

 probably as abundant now as ever ; but in mild 

 winters there is frequently a deficiency in the 

 supply. 



The records given in Colonel Hawker's ' Sporting 

 Diary' afford valuable and interesting information 

 concerning the state of wild-fowling in this country 



