112 THE NATURE-STUDY IDEA 



state legislatures, is an excellent example in point. 

 It is gratifying that a prominent place in the 

 discussions for good game laws is taken by sportsmen 

 themselves. It is recognized that hunting for sport 

 must be kept within bounds, and that it must rise 

 above mere slaughter of defenseless animals. 



Another expression of this growing sympathy is 

 exhibited in the reservation of certain areas in 

 which animals are to be unmolested. It is a most 

 significant fact that while many country regions are 

 practically shot clean of animal life, sometimes even 

 to songbirds, the parks and other public properties 

 in cities often support this wild life in abundance. 

 Usually it is easier to study squirrels and many 

 kinds of birds in the city parks than in their native 

 wilds. To this awakening interest in the preserva- 

 tion of animals is now added the desire to preserve 

 the wild flowers. The future will see the wild 

 animals and plants safely ensconced in those areas 

 that lie beyond the reach of cultivated fields ; and 

 these things will be the heritage of the people, not 

 of the hunter and collector alone. 



This desire to protect and preserve our native 

 animals is well expressed in President Roosevelt's 

 reference to the subject when discussing the forest 

 preserves in his first message to Congress : ^' Certain 

 of the forest reserves should also be made preserves 

 for the wild forest creatures. All of the reserves 

 should be better protected from fires. Many of 

 them need special protection because of the great 

 injury done by live stock, above all by sheep. The 

 increase in deer, elk and other animals in the 



