o 



4 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



litigious tenant, if tilings did not continue happily 

 between all parties. 



There has been a vast deal of nonsense talked, 

 at farmers' clubs and meetings, about the mischief 

 done by what is called ^'an over-preservation of 

 game." Now, what /.s* really meant by an ^^over- 

 preservation of game?" It is not the mere quantity 

 kept, but the fact that the peoj)le who make the 

 outcry are not themselves allowed to assist in its 

 destruction. Game, that is, pheasants, hares, and 

 partridges, may be present and protected in the 

 strictest manner, and yet not be in anything like 

 such quantities as to overrun or damage the 

 farmer's crops.* Rabbits are not game, but they 

 should always be reserved by the landlord. No 

 landlord with a grain of sense would preserve or 

 encourage too many rabbits, although he would 

 be quite right in strictly protecting from depre- 

 dators such rabbits as were on his manor or lands, 

 so as to keep off illicit company. 



There is nothing wdiich so tends to misunder- 

 standings an cf ill-will as the assignment of coursing 



"' The real fact is, that no proprietor can " over-preserve game," 

 for an over-preservation would bring disease, as wo all know, and 

 the winged game would die if increased beyond the natural average. ■ 



