OF FIELD-SPORTS GENERALLY. 733 



not found it necessary to establish laws for restraining the 

 natural ardour of man for this pursuit, to prevent it being 

 followed to an extent that might be injurious to society. 



Such has been the zeal of mankind, from the most remote 

 periods of history, for preserving favourite stags, and the fre- 

 quency of punishment awarded to those who injured them, 

 that Virgil thought an incident of this kind a proper one for 

 the whole plot of the iEneid to turn on : — 



" A favourite stag 

 Was of the dire distress the leading cause. 

 It raised suspicions first, then roused the sons 

 Of violence to war." 



Pliny says that the chase gave rise to monarchical states. 

 " In the earliest ages," says that historian, " men had no pri- 

 vate possessions. They passed their lives devoid of fear and 

 envy, having no other enemies than the beasts of prey, and, 

 consequently, the hunting and destroying these were their 

 principal occupations ; so that he who exhibited most dex- 

 terity, courage, and power naturally became the chief of the 

 hunters of his country, and presided in the assemblies which 

 they convoked for grand hunting occasions, making a general 

 havoc among the ferocious animals which infested their coun- 

 tries, and also for pursuing beasts on which they fed. But, 

 in the sequel, these bands of hunters began to contend for 

 the retreats most abundant in game : they fought for these 

 places, and the vanquished necessarily remained in subjec- 

 tion to the victors ; and thus it was that dominations were 

 formed. Accordingly, it may be naturally inferred, that the 

 first kings and the first conquerors were hunters.'^ 



The amusement of hunting was carried so far by our an- 

 cestors, that even young ladies of rank and beauty spent 

 much of their time in it. This sport aiforded the youthful 

 chieftains an opportunity of displaying their bravery and 



