IOTKODIJCTIOK 



IT is not known, probably not now to be discovered, at 

 what period in the history of man, the pursuit of wild 

 animals which was originally undertaken by the semi- 

 barbarous tribes as a means of procuring animal food, or 

 for protection against formidable carnivora, which threat- 

 ened either their own existence or that of their flocks and 

 herds, as they gradually adopted stationary homes and 

 pastoral habits began to be regarded as a sport. But 

 from a very remote period of antiquity such has undoubt- 

 edly been the case; and so universally diffused in all 

 countries, so generally implanted in all hearts, does this 

 passion now exist, that we may assume it as certain, that 



