268 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY 



used nothing but the tongue, and many were killed purely for sport, 

 the carcass being left untouched on the plains. This wanton slaughter 

 was a disgrace to the American people, and probably but for the public 

 spirit of the members of the American Bison Society and other indi- 

 viduals the race would now be as extinct as the passenger pigeon. 



Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros. These huge pachydermatous forms 

 are used to a considerable extent by the natives of Africa as food, the 

 flesh being like coarse beef. 



FIG. 174. The American bison, Bison bison. X 



Zoology, after Beddard.') 



- (From Hegner, College 



Deer. The various species of the deer family (Cermda) are among 

 the most useful of our native animals, and were formerly of great eco- 

 nomic importance, before their numbers were reduced by indiscriminate 

 slaughter. Venison in medieval Europe and in the early days in 

 America was the common meat of the table, while now it is seldom 

 seen except at frontier points in the United States and Canada. It is 

 one of the most easily digested of foods and hence would be invaluable 

 for invalids. According to tables published by the Scientific American 

 venison requires one hour for digestion, as compared to one and one- 

 half hours for raw eggs, three hours for mutton and five hours for 

 pork or veal. 



Besides their value as a source of meat, deer are also important be- 



