Preservation of the Wild Animals of 

 North America 



BY HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN 



The National and Congressional movement for 

 the preservation of the Sequoia In California 

 represents a growth of Intelligent sentiment. It Is 

 the same kind of sentiment which must be aroused, 

 and aroused in time, to bring about Government 

 legislation If we are to preserve our native ani- 

 mals. That which principally appeals to us In the 

 Sequoia Is Its antiquity as a race, and the fact that 

 California Is Its last refuge. 



As a special and perhaps somewhat novel argu- 

 ment for preservation, I wish to remind you of 

 the great antiquity of our game animals, and the 

 enormous period of time which It has taken nature 

 to produce them. We must have legislation, and 

 we must have It In time. I recall the story of the 

 judge and jury who arrived In town and inquired 

 about the security of the prisoner, who was known 

 to be a desperate character; they were assured by 



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