X LIFE OF 



to some want or luxury, we are less liable to lose the tradition of 

 their first uses. When destroyed, the species is either entirely lost, 

 or its locality becomes more limited. This takes place, by the cul- 

 tivation of the country destroying the natural productions, and 

 introducing others not adapted for the sustenance of the native 

 animals ; or by the great and indiscriminate destruction of the dif- 

 ferent species, either for food, or articles of commerce; or it arises 

 from the jealousy and hatred of the native tribes towards their more 

 civilised aggressors. Thus, late travellers in the interior of North 

 America, frequently complain of the scarcity of various sorts of game, 

 in parts where they previously abounded. Major Long particularly 

 notices this, in his expedition to the source of the St Peter's River. 

 Speaking of the native Indians there, he says, — " They hunt without 

 reserve, and destroy the game more rapidly than it can be repro- 

 duced. They appear, since their intercourse with the white men, 

 to have lost the sagacious foresight which previously distinguished 

 them. It was usual for them formerly, to avoid killing the deer 

 during the rutting season. The does that were with young were, 

 in like manner, always spared, except in cases of urgency ; and the 

 young fawns were not wantonly destroyed : but, at present, the 

 Indian seems to consider himself as a stranger in the land which 

 his fathers held as their own. He sees his property daily exposed 

 to the encroachments of white men ; and therefore hunts down 

 indiscriminately every animal that he meets with, being doubtful 

 whether he will be permitted to reap, the ensuing year, the fruits 

 of his foresight during the present ; and fearing lest he may not be 

 able to hunt undisturbed upon his property for another season." 

 The department of nature about which we are now more immedi- 

 ately interested, points out similar instances, occurring almost to 

 our personal observation. In our own little islands, many of those 

 birds formerly esteemed common, are now hardly to be met with. 

 The bustard is almost extinct from our plains ; and the noble 

 capercalzie of the Scottish forests, has disappeared for nearly a 

 century. The ostrich and large bustards of Africa, the rhsea and 

 emu of their respective countries, are driven by the settlers and 

 colonists, to seek for new and undisturbed abodes and feeding 

 grounds ; and in " Canada, and the now densely peopled parts of 

 the United States," says the continuator of Wilson, " wild turkeys, 



