114 WILD LIFE CONSERVATION 



and if the species is given another five-year close 

 season, they will become really numerous. 



In this connection it is desirable to set forth 

 pointedly the principle that forms the foundation 

 of our treatment of our almost-vanished species of 

 wild life. 



Every wild species of bird or mammal quickly 

 recognizes protection, and takes advantage of it to 

 the utmost. 



To the protector of wild life, the most charming 

 trait of wild-life character is the alacrity and con- 

 fidence with which birds and mammals respond to 

 the friendly advances of human friends. At the 

 present critical stage of our subject, this state of 

 the wild- animal mind constitutes a factor of great 

 importance in arresting the extermination of species 

 .and in bringing them back to safe ground. This 

 response to man's protection is manifested not only 

 in harmless quail and song-birds, squirrels, rabbits 

 and beavers, but also in deer, elk, moose, mountain 

 sheep, antelope and grizzly bears. 



The tameness of squirrels in city parks is well 

 known. Within the past year, a covey of wild quail 

 has come several times to a rocky ledge witliin 

 forty feet of our office window in the Zoological 

 Park. I have scared gray rabbits off the front 

 door mat of the Administration Building. In 

 December, a gray squirrel entered my office at an 

 open window, evidently seeking new nest-lining 

 materials among the dry scientific pamphlets that 



