164 THE EXTINCTION OF ANIMALS. 



CHAPTER XVI, 



THE EXTINCTION OF ANIMALS. 



IF it be true that, as compared with the pre-glacial epoch, 

 we are living in an impoverished world so far as the larger 

 forms of animal life are concerned, it is even more certain 

 that our immediate descendants will be the heirs of a 

 still mere depopulated globe. Already the bison has 

 disappeared from the American prairies, while of the vast 

 swarms of antelopes and other large mammals which half 

 a century ago peopled the plains of Africa scarce a tithe 

 remains, and a few are well-nigh, or even totally, extinct. 

 A few years ago, indeed, it appeared that we were likely 

 ere long to witness the complete extermination of many 

 species of the larger African mammals ; but, although we 

 can never expect to see them again in their original 

 multitudes, several of the South and East African govern- 

 ments are now taking measures to ensure the preservation 

 of a few of the various species, and there is accordingly 

 some hope that although the nineteenth century will ever 

 deserve the reproach of posterity, as having been the one 

 during which the world was to a great extent depopulated 

 of the larger forms of animal life, yet that it will escape 

 the crowning shame of having actually exterminated a 

 host of species. Still, however, the indictment against our 

 generation is heavy enough in all conscience ; and there is 

 no reasonable doubt but that the destructiveness which is 

 so characteristic of human nature whether civilized or 

 otherwise has led to the total extinction of two species 

 of large African mammals within the last thirty years, 

 while a third is only too likely to share the same fate. On 

 the other hand, it must not be assumed that all the 

 animals known to have become extinct within the historic 

 period have succumbed directly to this demon of destruc- 

 tiveness. In certain cases, as we shall see in the sequel, 

 the introduction of other animals by human agency has 



