156 ENGLAND. 



season. It is thought that in England twelve millions of fleeces are 

 shorn annually ; which, at a medium of 2s. a fleece, make 1,200,000/. 

 The other kind of sheep which are fed upon the downs, such as those 

 of Banstead, Bagshot-heath, and Devonshire, where they have what 

 the farmers call the short bite, is little, if at all, inferior in flavour and 

 sweetness to venison. 



The English mastiffs and bull-dogs are said to be the strongest 

 and fiercest of the canine species in the world ; but either from the 

 change of soil, or feeding, they degenerate in foreign climates. 

 James I, of England, by way of experiment, turned out two English 

 bull-dogs upon one of the fiercest lions in the Tower, and they soon 

 conquered hittii The masiiff, however, has all the courage of the 

 buii-dog, without its ferocity, and is particularly distinguished for 

 his fidelity and docility. All the different species of dogs that abound 

 in other countries, for the field as well as domestic uses, are to be 

 found in England. 



What has been observed of the degeneracy of the English dogs in 

 foreign countries is applicable to the English game-cocks, which af- 

 ford much barbarous uiversion to our sportsmen. The courage of 

 these oirds is astonishing, and one of the true breed never leaves the 

 pit alive without victory. The proprietors and feeders of this gener- 

 ous animal are likewise extremely curious as to his blood and pedi> 

 gree. 



Time fowls are much the same in England as in other countries j 

 turkeys, peacocks, common poultry, such as cocks, pullets, and ca- 

 pons, geese, swans, ducks, and tame pigeons. The wild sort are 

 bustards, wild geese, wild ducks, teal, wigeon, plover, pheasants, 

 partridges, woodcocks, grouse, quail, landrail, snipe, wood-pigeons, 

 hawks of different kinds, kites, owls, herons, crows, rooks, ravens, 

 magpies, jackdaws and jays, blackbirds, thrushes, nightingales, 

 goldfinches, linnets, larks, and a great variety of small birds ; Ca- 

 nary-birds also breed in England. The wheat-ear is by many pre- 

 ferred to the ortolan, for the delicacy of its flesh and flavour, and is 

 peculiar to England. 



Few countries are better supplied than England with river and sea 

 fish. Her rivers and ponds contain plenty of salmon, trout, eels, 

 pike, perch, smelts, carp, tench, barbel, gudgeons, roach, dace, gray 

 mullet, bream, plaice, flounders, and cray-fish ; besides a delicate 

 lake-fish, called char, which is found in some fresh-water lakes of 

 Wales and Cumberland, and, as some say, no where else. The sea- 

 fish are cod, mackerel, haddock, whiting, herrings, pilchard, skaite, 

 soles. The john-dory, found towards the western coast, is reckoned 

 a great delicacy, as is the red-mullet. Several other fish are found 

 on the same coast. As to shell-fish, they are chiefly oysters, the pro- 

 pagation of which, upon their proper banks, requires a peculiar cul- 

 ture. Lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and escallops, one of the most deli- 

 cious of shell-fishes, cockles, wilks, periwinkles, and muscles, with 

 many other small shell-fish, abound in the English seas. The whales 

 chiefly visit the northern coast ; but great numbers of porpoises and 

 seals appear in the channel. 



With regard to reptiles, such as adders, vipers, snakes and worms ; 

 and insects, such as ants, gnats, wasps, and flies, England nearly 

 resembles the rest of Europe ; and the difference, if any, becomes 

 Snore proper for natural history than geography. 



Natural curiosities. ...Among the natural curiosities of this coun- 



