INTRODUCTION. 
Ir is not known, probably not now to be discovered, at 
what period in the history of man, the pursuit of wild 
animals—which was originally undertaken by the semi- 
barbarous tribes as a means of procuring animal food, or 
for protection against formidable carnivora, which threat- 
ened either their own existence or that of their flocks and 
herds, as they gradually adopted stationary homes and 
pastoral habits—began to be regarded asa sport. But 
from a very remote period of antiquity such has undoubt- 
edly been the case; and so universally diffused in all 
countries, so generally implanted in all hearts, does this 
passion now exist, that we may assume it as certain, that 
