Identifier: naturesportinbri00bryd (find matches)
Title: Nature and sport in Britain
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Bryden, H. A. (Henry Anderson), 1854-1937
Subjects: Horses Game and game-birds Hunting
Publisher: London : G. Richards
Contributing Library: Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Tufts University

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f the New Forest. Young lambs in the down country—and indeed in most countries—require careful lookingafter, although it is probable that far more sheep andlambs are killed by the foxs first cousin, the dog, thanby the fox himself. Badgers are well-known inhabit-ants of these regions, and the otter, found in the Cuck-mere and other streams, was last season, for the firsttime within the memory of man, hunted in this part ofSussex. Between Birling Gap and Seaford lies the CuckmereHaven, where the little river of that name dischargesitself into the sea. Years ago this used to be a favouritelocality for smugglers and wildfowl. The smugglershave gone, and the wildfowl are sadly reduced innumbers ; but near the estuary and up the marshyvalley towards the old-fashioned village of Alfristonsome interesting shore birds are, especially in hardwinters, to be met with. The Cuckmere threads itsway into the sea at low water in a small but mostpellucid current through a bed of shingle. To me 306
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WILD LIFE ON THE SUSSEX DOWNS the stream at this point looks most tempting forsea-trout and even an occasional salmon. I know thatsea-trout are sometimes taken in the neighbouringriver, the Avon, which flows to the sea by Lewes andNewhaven, but I am not aware of any modern fisher-man having landed a Cuckmere sea-trout. Probablythe stream is too easy-going and placid—too midland-looking—to attract game fish of this species. Within the limits of this chapter it is impossible toattempt more than the mere outline of so vast a subject.Even a stout volume would be no more than sufficientto do justice to the wild life of the South Downs. Imust pass over the bats, the lizards, mice, voles, andother small mammals, as well as scores of birds, manyof them of much more than fleeting interest. As forthe wild flowers, who that has wandered upon thedowns can ever forget them ? They need manychapters, or articles to themselves. Nature is wonder-fully bountiful of flower life amid the smooth, shor

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