FIRST AXXTAI. REPORT. 21 



world will be practically destitute of beasts, birds and reptiles. 

 In a comparatively few years there will be no large game exist- 

 ing in a wild state on the continent of North America, save in 

 a few areas of dense forest or impassable tundra. 



It has taken nature millions of years to produce the beau- 

 tiful and wonderful varieties of animals which we are so rapidly 

 exterminating. Unless we can create a sentiment which will 

 check this .slaughter, and devise laws for those who do not 

 respect sentiment, the bones of our now common types will 

 soon be as rare as those of the dodo and the great auk ; and 

 man will be practically the sole survivor of a great world of life. 



Let us hope that this destruction can be checked by the 

 spread of an intelligent love of nature and its products. And 

 nowhere is it more important to inculcate these ideas than in 

 the cities, which are the centres of the most influential press, 

 periodical and book literature. The destruction of animal life 

 is removing from city dwellers, farther and farther, the possi- 

 bility of knowing the lower animals through contact with them 

 in the field. To the average city-bred man, woman or young 

 person of this country, our American fauna is merely a vague 

 and indefinite thing. In the grammar schools, high schools 

 and even normal .schools of nearly the whole United vStates, the 

 sj'Stematic study of zoology receives increasing attention every 

 year, but still far less than it deserves. 



THE .SOCIETV AND THE PUBIJC. 



In behalf of the objects but partially outlined in the fore- 

 going prospectus, the Society asks the support of the com- 

 munity. Beyond all doubt, the objects aimed at will appeal to 

 and directly benefit a greater proportion of the three million in- 

 habitants of this city than will any other enterprise that has 

 been undertaken for the higher education or healthful pleas- 

 ure of our people since the establishment of Central Park itself. 

 With due appreciation for all of the existing institutions of 

 New York, we believe that such a zoological park as is now 

 projected will become the most popular resort within reach of 

 the inhabitants of this city. There is no cla.ss of our popula- 

 tion to which it will not appeal. 



