HISTORY OF CORBIN PRESERVE — ^MANVILLE 441 



on the Pisgah National Game Preserve, in North Carolina ; delivery 

 was not accomplished until January 1919, due to wartime transporta- 

 tion problems (Garretson,1938: 208,210). 



As these other herds increased, it was deemed advisable to reduce the 

 Corbin stock to a permanent herd of about 25 head. Actually, the 

 Corbin herd numbered 86 in 1911 : 78 (41 males, 37 females) in 1913; 

 and 96 (46 males, 40 females, 10 yomig) in 1918 (Amer. Bison Soc, 

 1913, 1918). Reference is made to an apparent change in the stature 

 and character of the Corbin bison, which were perhaps 10 percent 

 larger than normal, attributed to the excellent conditions on their 

 range. Gradually the herd was allowed to dwindle. Numbers in the 

 last years (H. H. T. Jackson, 1944; and Fish and Wildlife Service 

 files) were 21 in 1937, 26 in 1938, 22 in 1939, 15 in 1940, and 6 in 1941. 

 By this time the remaining bison were in an almost domestic condition. 

 Contagious abortion, later identified as brucellosis, became prevalent, 

 and the herd was destro3'ed. It was not until after an 18-month hunt, 

 however, that the last one was shot in 1945. 



Himalayan tahr, Hemitragus jemlahictis. — The "few*' Himalayan 

 goats originally introduced were probably of this species, though 

 they may have been Siberian ibex, Capra iheoe, and Champollion 

 speaks in passing of about six "European goats or chamois." There 

 appears to be no record of their origin or of their ultimate fate. 

 Certainly they disappeared soon after their original release on the 

 preserve. 



Bighorn, Ovis canadensis. — Champollion intimates that bighorn 

 sheep were introduced, but "also failed." No other record gives a 

 hint as to their source or numbers or the circumstances of their brief 

 sojourn at the Corbin Preserve. 



OTHER WILDLIFE 



General accounts of the native wildlife of this area have been pre- 

 sented by Baynes (1931), Siegler (1962), and Silver (1957). The 

 wood duck (Aix sponsa), ruffed grouse {Bonasa umhellus), turkey 

 {Meleagris gallopavo), woodcock {Philoliela minor) ^ and upland 

 plover {Bartramia longicauda) were the principal game birds in the 

 early days, though most were reduced before the establisliment of 

 the Corbin Preserve. There was little suitable habitat here for 

 waterfowl. 



Native game mammals included the snowshoe hare {Lepus ameri- 

 carncs), cottontail {Sylvilagus transitionalis) , gray squirrel {Sciurus 

 caroUnensis) , and black bear ( ZJrsus americanus) . Among important 

 furbearers were the beaver {Castor canadensis), muskrat [Ondatra 

 zihethimis), red fox (Vulpus fulva) , gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargen- 

 tevs), raccoon {Procyon lotor), marten {Martes ainericana) , fisher 

 {Maries pennanti), mink {Mustela vison), striped skunk {Mephitis 



