CHAPTER V 



GAME PRESERVES 



One of the features in the psychical growth of the last 

 quarter of a century has been the gradual recognition by 

 civilized nations of their duty to protect from destruction 

 and extermination the various forms, including the nobler 

 and more imposing forms, of animal life. Thirty years ago 

 there was no effective sentiment against the destruction of 

 the most interesting, imposing, or beautiful birds and mam- 

 mals which our world contains. The bison and passenger- 

 pigeon in America, the white rhinoceros and quagga in South 

 Africa, were allowed to go the way of almost or complete 

 extinction ; and sea-elephants, and fur-seals, gorgeous pheas- 

 ants and birds of paradise, beautiful egrets, ibises, and fla- 

 mingoes, and many, many other strange and lovely crea- 

 tures, were treated as the legitimate prey of every brutal 

 and squalid spoiler who wished to gratify his own greed or 

 the still baser greed of his employers and their customers by 

 robbing the earth of beauty and destroying what never 

 could be replaced. Too late to save many creatures from 

 destruction, but in time to save many others, the civilized 

 peoples waked up to what was needed. One of the first 

 steps taken was the establishment of the Yellowstone Park 

 as a game preserve by the Government of the United States. 

 Many other preserves now dot the American continent north 

 of the Rio Grande. The German Government has also 



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