VIII. 



A VANISHING BIRD. 



IF we look at the history of this country of 

 ours there is vividly presented to us the fact 

 of constant change taking place in all things, 

 animate or inanimate. We know, for instance, 

 that the greater part of Scotland was once 

 clothed with dense forest, of which here and 

 there a remnant only remains ; much that is 

 now fertile field or broad pasture was but 

 recently bleak or impassable morass. These 

 changes, together with the steady advance of 

 what we call civilisation, bring in their train 

 corresponding changes in the wild inhabitants 

 of the land. Some old world creatures, such as 

 the bear, the beaver, the boar, have long since 

 passed away ; some more familiar forms known 

 to our fathers have already gone from us ; and 

 some that are still with us, but in ever-diminished 

 numbers, are apparently on the very verge of 

 extinction. 



In this latter category one noble bird stands 



F 81 



