18 THE GROUSE 



though inadequate, excuse for the illicit 

 exercise of his sportsman instinct. But 

 there is unfortunately too much reason to 

 believe that were legal protection of game 

 entirely abolished, even if a rigorous 

 trespass law were maintained, game itself 

 would soon be extirpated. This, at least, 

 has been the experience of every country 

 where there is an entire absence of game 

 protection. 



