WASTE LANDS. 



101 



WASTE LANDS. 



Ornithology, when divested of hard names 

 and a crabbed system, is an easy and a pleasant 

 study. Formerly, there were abundant oppor- 

 tunities of enjoying this fascinating pursuit on 

 the common lands which our provident ancestors 

 had set apart for the use of the public in every 

 town and village of England. As these common 

 lands, by a most ill-judged policy, became pri- 

 vate property, the field naturalist was robbed 

 of his rights with the rest of his fellow-towns- 

 men. If the present rage for enclosures shall 

 continue to receive the countenance of our 

 Parliament, we may soon bid adieu for ever to 

 the valuable privileges which the waste lands of 

 England have hitherto afforded to the public. 



In my own immediate neighbourhood there 

 still remains a spacious common for the public 

 good. It is beautiful in nature's wildest charms. 

 On the lower part of it there is a noble extent 

 of gorse or whins, not " unprofitably gay " to 

 the ardent naturalist; for he has it in his 

 power to come hither and enjoy the sight of 



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