WOODLANDS, GAME, AND SPORT 301 



of woodland sport. To have first-class sport of 

 this latter kind it is, of course, necessary that 

 the wooded areas be large and compact, so as 

 to provide rest and quietness for the different 

 sorts of big game, and to prevent them from 

 doing much damage to the agricultural crops 

 surrounding the woods. It is only under such 

 circumstances that a stock of wild boar and 

 red deer can be properly maintained in wood- 

 lands. After the former had practically been 

 exterminated in all parts of southern England 

 except some of the royal forests, General Howe, 

 early in last century, endeavoured to raise a 

 fresh stock in Wolmer Forest from wild boars 

 and sows obtained in Germany; but the agri- 

 cultural population rose and destroyed them 

 on account of their depredations. Wild boars, 

 red deer, and roe certainly all do more or less 

 damage in woodlands, and particularly the last 

 two ; but the damage is much easier to keep 

 within due bounds, while still retaining a fair 

 head of game for true sport, than is the case 

 with ground game. In some parts of the 

 country, however, as in the Scone woods in 

 Perthshire, roe-deer often prove exceedingly de- 



