74 
INTRODUCTION. 
have decreased to a serious extent. The wooded 
character of Britain in its ancient state, standing, 
particularly in the northern parts, almost as an 
uninterrupted primeval forest, has been destroyed, 
and the favourite haunts of these wild birds have 
been intruded on. But they chiefly owe their 
diminution to the large premiums which are offered 
for their destruction, on account of the havoc they 
commit among the young of the flocks and to the 
game. The extensive cultivation, and particularly 
the drainage, in all parts has materially influenced 
the numbers of both our stationary and migratory 
water-fowl. The latter cause has worked most 
destructively in the fenny districts of Lancashire 
and Lincoln, and is gradually expelling species 
which we can never hope to see replaced in other 
stations. The multitudes of those birds were for- 
merly very great, living and breeding unmolested 
in parts now under cultivation and furnishing 
the grains for our markets, “ water-foules there 
is so great store that the report thereof may 
seeme to exceed all credite.” We cannot calcu- 
late the proportion of their decrease at less than 
two-thirds. But our most to be regretted extir- 
pations are among the Rasorial birds, the species 
of which order, generally easily domesticated and 
in a great measure granivorous, afford temptations, 
from the price that is paid for them, to supply the 
markets of our large towns as much sought for 
