194 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



canary is an excellent instance, as she ably powerful reproductive instinct, 



will lay fifty eggs in a season if encour- which is separate from the sexual 



aged, and as often as not refuse to sit intercourse, and appears most clearly 



on one of them. And finally a number so in the case of the barndoor fowl, 



of poultry fanciers are labouring to which calmly continues to lay barren 



produce a domestic hen which shall eggs when she has not interviewed 



lay an egg every morning. Thus it a male of her species for many 



is clear that birds have an immeasur- weeks. 



XXXVIII 



SPORT, AND WILD LIFE 



" I have determined to keep my hands free from extermination." JOHN COLQUHOUN. 



forefathers were hunters, round by laws "Thou shalts, and thou 

 They hunted for food, for safety, shalt nots." And, by sentiments, 

 for the love of adventure. They went these unwritten laws, which are ever 

 out to kill, or to be killed ; when the more binding. Laws are for the 

 the one was almost as likely as the common man : sentiments are at the 

 other. They staked a life against a making of a gentleman. The sports- 

 life, which seems to be the only valid man raised the wild creature nearer 

 reason why life should be taken. Half to his own level, gave it certain almost 

 the zest of pursuit is in the stake. The human rights ; and made a compact, 

 strain is in their descendants. We are to hunt together on, as nearly as pos- 

 of hunting ancestry. The habit has sible, equal terms. So was formed a 

 become an instinct : slumbering only manner of round table, and those 

 for lack of opportunity. In part, who sat thereat were under certain 

 covered under other pursuits : or in knightly vows. 



disguise. Trade is a form of hunting, Laws were to be simply interpreted, 



honourably, or dishonourably pursued and strictly observed. Nor were any 



as the case may be, with some of the of the safeguards to be tampered with, 



excitement of the chase. Such was the There was to be no disturbance of the 



phase of barbarism. balance ; no despoiling of the land. 



In an era of chivalry, sport was Nothing was to be done to make the 



born out of hunting. Lest it might approach more easy, the quarry less 



seem to be butchery, it was guarded suspicious. That were an evasion, the 



