GAME PROTECTION 129 
any wild creature in a way that would prolong its misery 
for hours, or even for days. 
The sportsman does not forget that animals have 
rights. Every species, except a parasite, has the right 
to exist, and. true sportsmen have always been ready to 
protect species threatened by extermination. The 
scientist and the lover of nature can view only with 
feelings of the deepest concern and regret, the disappear- 
ance of any species from our fauna or flora. The fauna 
of the earth is already much impoverished by the extinc- 
tion of many large mammals and birds both on this and 
other continents. Many of the large mammals of the 
Quaternary period have most hkely been exterminated 
by prehistoric man. Several nations, including the 
United States, have established reservations which fur- 
nish an asylum for the wild creatures of the land. In 
this country we have the Yellowstone Park, and there 
are no reasons why forest reserves should not furnish an 
undisturbed breeding ground for large game. The 
German government has established in its African 
possessions forest reserves for the African elephant and 
other large game. 
It goes without argument that every lover of nature 
would like to see all our wild animals preserved from 
extinction. This protection is, however, of special 
interest to all bird lovers, and they should, therefore, 
do all in their power to further the cause of game and 
fish protection. 
As has already been shown in a previous chapter, the 
extinction of game birds would undoubtedly be followed 
K 
