THE FORMATION OF A GREAT GAME HERD. 47 



seldom or never remain long in any one place, but 

 roam over the plains in all directions, as grass and 

 water happen to be plentiful, or otherwise. Therefore 

 the question of any particular district being or not 

 being able to maintain numerous herds, does not arise. 

 In reality however, these great assemblages of animals 

 represent the migratory movements of game in search 

 of fresh pasturage, because of a scarcity of food in the 

 country behind them. 



Were a famine, an invasion, or any other great 

 catastrophe to take place in London, it can hardly be 

 doubtful that similar enormous assemblages of its 

 inhabitants would pour out of the metropolis in hopes 

 of finding provisions or safety in the country parts. 

 Every road would thus be seen crowded with its 

 stream of fugitives. 



So it is with the game. As long as food and 

 water are plentiful, they are scattered in small bands 

 over the face of the country; but as supplies begin 

 to fail they are compelled to shift their quarters; and 

 these several streams of animal migrants, meeting 

 together in the course of their passage from one dis- 

 trict to another, form the mighty herds of game which 

 created such universal surprise among the human 

 spectators. As this movement is probably simultaneous 

 and general over a very large area of country, it 

 of course follows that the assemblage will be a 

 numerous one. 



Viewed in this light, there does not seem to be 

 anything very extraordinary in this phenomenon, or 

 which cannot be easily accounted for by this simple 

 explanation of the facts. 



The assemblage of these great herds however, was 



