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 likely 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 



