PAPERS OF GENERAL INTEREST 41 



few tilings have no disadvantages so in this case camp- 

 ing, hunting, and fishing seriously disturb the natural 

 conditions of balance but the ecologist cannot afford to 

 neglect to avail himself of this interest because of that 

 fact. Most presei'ves must be established with this dual 

 pui730se of recreation and study and proper measures 

 taken to allow the one and protect the other. One has 

 only to consider the comparatively small number of pre- 

 serves established at the present time which have not had 

 the direct or indirect support of this recreational in- 

 terest or the economic, to be convinced that where the 

 one cariies less force the other must be utilized." — 

 G. TT. Goldsmith. 



THE AUTOMOBILE 



' ' The automobile is fast opening up the most inaccessi- 

 ble sections of the countiy to the hunter and the indus- 

 trial exploiter, as well as to eveiy week-end excursionist 

 who chances to own a 'tin Lizzie.' All are combining 

 to destroy our native fauna and flora, and to upset the 

 general balance which was maintained for ages before 

 the entrance of man. Nearly every day's papers through- 

 out the summer and fall, chronicle a considerable list of 

 forest fires, most of which, according to wardens, are due 

 to carelessness on the part of campers or hunters. But 

 this list does not include the hmidreds of square miles 

 of biTish and chaparral which are burned over every 

 season." — F. B. Sumner. 



HEEEDITY 



"The science of ecology, for example, depends upon 

 undisturbed patches of nature as its 'material.' More 

 important still, all that we have leaiTied of geographic 

 distribution and geographic variation has come from the 

 study of native species taken in their original habitats. 

 This work is far from being practically completed 

 throughout our country, as some may be inclined to think. 

 For the genus Peromyscus, I am disposed to think that 

 the real task has only just begun. I know that there are 

 other biologists who believe, as I do, that tlie problems 

 of hereditv and evolution are not all to be solved bv rear- 



