196 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



falo, and the reduction of many other species to the point 

 indicating the near approach of extermination, the con- 

 science of the people has become quickened on this sub- 

 ject, and a sympathetic public has begun to view this 

 question in an entirely different light. Sentiment and 

 utility have joined hands. 



As to many of our birds and beasts, the problem now is 

 how to prevent complete extinction. Of the countless mil- 

 lions of wild pigeons that once darkened the air and en- 

 livened the woods, only a few hundred, at most, seem to 

 be alive, and even their existence is a subject of contro- 

 versy. There are enough buffaloes still remaining to pre- 

 vent complete extermination, and probably ultimately to 

 supply a very useful breed of cattle in captivity. The 

 national government has embarked in the enterprise of 

 restoring a small herd of these animals in the Yellow- 

 stone National Park, but in that severe climate and high 

 altitude, the increase is slow. In view of the success of 

 the Indian in preserving and multiplying the herd upon 

 the Flathead Reservation, there is much reason for en- 

 couragement as to the Yellowstone herd, because the cli- 

 mate and elevation are nearly the same. On the Flathead 

 Reservation there are 342 buffaloes about equally divided 

 between the sexes. This number remains after the sale 

 of a considerable number to Howard Eaton a few years 

 ago. 



The buffalo should be preserved and renewed in the 

 forest reserves. The number remaining are but few. 

 Fortunately the little flocks in captivity are widely scat- 

 tered, so that no unexpected epidemic can suddenly com- 

 plete their extermination. 



The Austin Corbin herd at Meriden, New Hampshire, 

 now numbers 154 fine animals, one-half of which are 

 males. The new herd in the Yellowstone Park was start- 

 ed a few years ago with eighteen cows from the Flathead 



