196 THE LIFE OF THE FIELDS. 



of the wild turkey from North America, which has 

 partly succeeded. Beavers, too, have been induced 

 to resume possession of their ancient streams under 

 careful supervision, but they are outside present con- 

 sideration. While England has thus lost some species 

 and suffered a diminution of several, other countries 

 have been supplied from our streams and woods and 

 hedge-rows. England has sent the sparrow to the 

 United States and Australia; also the nightingale, 

 rabbit, salmon, trout, and sweet-briar. 



It is quite open to argument that pheasant-covers 

 have saved as well as destroyed. Wood-pigeons could 

 scarcely exist in such numbers without the quiet of 

 preserved woods to breed in ; nor could squirrels. Nor 

 can the rarity of such birds as the little bearded tit be 

 charged on game. The great bustard, the crane, and 

 bittern have been driven away by cultivation. The 

 crane, possibly, has deserted us wilfully ; since civili- 

 zation in other countries has not destroyed it. And 

 then the fashion of making natural history collections 

 has much extended of recent years : so much so that 

 many blame too ardent collectors for the increasing 

 rarity of birds like the crossbill, waxwing, hoopoe, 

 golden oriole, and others which seem to have once 

 visited this country more commonly than at present 



