GAME CLUBS, PARKS AND PRESERVES 31 



INlr. Hornaday, in his new book,* predicts thai it 

 will not be long- before many of these magnificent 

 game animals are extinct. Mr. Wallahan, of Colora- 

 do, the celebrated photographer of live big game, 

 says : 



" Unless we have a close season on the mule-deer, 

 five years will see the finish of these animals. 1 will give 

 you some figures : In 1897 I was on the big trail here 

 for nine days, and I counted within a few of a thou- 

 sand deer. In 1901 I Avas on the same trail for eigh- 

 teen days, and counted two hundred and twenty-eight 

 deer. In 1902 I was out fourteen days, and counted 

 fifty-two deer. More deer passed in a single twenty- 

 four hours in 1892, '93, '94, 95 and 96 than passed dur- 

 ing the whole month of October, 1902." f 



Again Mr. Wallahan says : " Look at the antelope ! 

 But I don't know whether you can find any to look at; 

 for I don't think there are fifty in Routt County, 

 where ten years ago there were probably 5o,ooo."t 

 Mr. Hornaday predicts the total extinction of this 

 animal at an early date, unless it is fully and perma- 

 nently protected in a wild state on its native ranges 

 for a long period, and says it cannot be perpetuated 

 by breeding in captivity.* 



A few large game preserves in Colorado and else- 

 where in the West would prove the salvation of these 

 animals, and with the kind of laws now enforced in 

 New England, on Long Island and elsewhere, these 

 animals, I believe, can be made to show an increase as 

 the Virsfinia deer and moose have. 



* " The American Natural History." 

 t " Outdoor Life." 



