APPENDIX. 593 



insects eat up the whole of their grass ; and the people were obliged 

 to get their stock of hay from Pennsylvania, and from England. 



And, in the island of Bourbon, the poor eastern Grakles dis- 

 appeared under a similar persecution. The islanders suffered in 

 their turn, for clouds of grasshoppers consumed every green blade ; 

 and the colonists were compelled to apply to Government for a fresh 

 breed of Grakles, and also for a law to protect them. 



Thus it appears from history that the sages of the East, and the 

 wise men of the West, did wrong in destroying their Grakles. They 

 were severely punished for their temerity, by the loss of their crops. 

 They repented and repaired the damage ; and, so far as I can learn, 

 things have gone on well betwixt themselves and the Grakles, and 

 betwixt the Grackles and their crops, ever since. In 1824 I saw 

 immense flocks of these birds in the low meadows of the Dela- 

 ware. 



I defend my sable friends, the rooks, here in England, on account 

 of their services to the land. Should the adverse party effect their 

 extirpation from Scotland, and then suffer by the ravages of the 

 grub, I will at any time be happy to send you a supply of these use- 

 ful and interesting birds. I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, 



CHARLES WATERTON. 



To Bishop Briggs. 



WALTON HALL, March i, 1846. 



Mr Waterton's respectful compliments and thanks to the Right 

 Reverend Dr Briggs, for his " Exhortations and Regulations for 

 Lent." 



Mr Waterton, aware that his Ass (the name which St Francis of 

 Assissium most appropriately gives to our mortal frame) is a stubborn 

 and unruly beast, begs leave to state, that he put a strong curb into 

 its mouth, about six weeks ago ; by which precaution, he confidently 

 hopes, that the brute is already tolerably well broken in for Lent, 

 and will not take boggle at trifles, but go on good-humouredly 

 over the barren moor which leads to the distant clover fields of 

 Easter Sunday. 



2 P 



