THE DESTRUCTION OF WILD ANIMALS. 143 



Just as tlie advent in Amei-ica of a superioi' race of men has driven 

 the Indians from their ancient power and position, so it has been 

 with the races of animals ; the new and more highly organized forms 

 have supplanted, and often destroyed, preexisting races. 



The opossum is, in America, the sole surviving representative of 

 the marsupial animals, which once probably were spread as the 

 leading race over the whole world. 



They still occupy a supreme position in Australia, because they 

 have been protected from sevei-e competition with higher forms by 

 separation from the mainland within recent geological times. 



Instances occur in several other islands of survival by protection, 

 of birds and reptiles representing families, now almost extinct, but 

 which once were the predominant races. 



Thus nature has preserved some records and examples of her past 

 work. Shall we not act wisely, if we also try to preserve for the 

 benefit and instruction of future generations some of those creatures 

 which will, before long, be entirely destroyed unless special means 

 are taken for their protection 1 



Within recent times the extinction of the Moa in New Zealand 

 and of the Dodo in the Mauritius has been brought about largely by 

 human destructiveness. 



The Apteryx still survives in the unsettled poi'tions of New Zea- 

 land, but it will soon disappear unless special means are taken to 

 protect it from advancing civilization. 



In North America during the last thirty years two birds have be- 

 come extinct ; viz., the great Auk, whose principal breeding places 

 were the banks of Newfoundland and Labrador ; and the Pied Duck, 

 a bird nearly related to the Eider Duck ; one of the last specimens 

 was killed in Halifax harbour in 1852. 



A startling decrease in the numbers of some of our most beautiful 

 birds has been brought about, of late years, by the unceasing war 

 raged against them in order to supply the demands of fashion. 



If we turn now to the large mammals, we find the Moose and the 

 Bufialo, or Bison, are being gradually driven from their ancient 

 haunts, and will probably be extinct in a few years' time. 



The Buffalo is now neai'ly extinct in the States. Where thousands 

 used to be met with, it is a rare thing to meet with one or two hund- 

 red. The cause has been the relentless and indiscriminate slaughter 

 of whole herds. 



