X 
LIFE OF 
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 
cultivation 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 
different species, either for food, or articles of commerce ; or it 
arises from the jealousy and hatred of the native tribes towards 
their more civilized 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 reproduced. 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 depart- 
ment of nature about which we are now more immediately 
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 Caper- 
calzie of the Scottish forests, has disappeared for nearly a century. 
The Ostrich and large Bustards of Africa, the Rhaea 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 
