British Animals Extinct within Historic Times; with some Account of British Wild White Cattle

Abstract

THE wild animals formerly inhabiting Britain, which disappeared before the advance of the hunter and farmer in historic times, have hitherto only been treated in a disconnected fashion, in essays scattered through various periodicals, or in portions of books relating to other subjects. Mr. Harting has collected together in the present volume his own essays in the Field and in the Popular Science Review, and has brought to bear upon his subject a knowledge of records, and an acquaintance with sport, which render his work extremely valuable. His references are accurate, and he has availed himself of nearly every source of information. Consequently we have before us a work dealing with the bear, wolf, beaver, reindeer, and “wild cattle,” worthy to be classed between Bell's “British Quadrupeds” on the one hand, and White's “History of Selborne” on the other, relating not merely to the animals, but to the forests in which they lived and to the mode in which they were hunted.

British Animals Extinct within Historic Times; with some Account of British Wild White Cattle.

By J. E. Harting. (London: Trübner, 1880.)