FLESH-EATING MAMMALS 9 



the danger of outbreaks of disease materially lessened. 

 It is demonstrable that, so long as a useful species is kept 

 within bounds, and is not allowed to increase beyond its 

 normal food-supply, just so long will it fulfil its natural 

 mission and be of true economic value. If, however, 

 the staple food-supply temporarily fails, then, in the 

 effort to maintain life, the animal is likely to become 

 obnoxious." * 



I remember being once witness of an instance illus- 

 trating the truth of the last sentence. I had arrived 

 at a native village in Portuguese territory, where the 

 people at once complained to me of the depredations 

 of two lions, which for several months had been practically 

 living entirely upon goats and sheep in the district. It 

 appeared that formerly there had been plenty of game, 

 but it had been greatly reduced by white hunters, and 

 the remainder exterminated by the native themselves, 

 most of them being in possession of firearms. There 

 was, therefore, none of their natural kind of prey re- 

 maining to the lions, which had become a very serious 

 menace, not only to the live-stock, but to the villagers 

 themselves. It is very unusual to find anything of the 

 kind occurring in a district well stocked with game. 



There are few sportsmen worthy of the name, I think, 

 who would not consider a game country destitute of its 

 lions and leopards rather a poor place. 



Carnivorous animals are not subject to the epidemic 

 diseases which at various times have destroyed large 

 numbers of the ungulates of Africa. They are, however, 

 as has been noted, delicate during youth, and some 

 species are liable to contract the skin complaints which 

 afflict their domestic relatives. 



* Extract from the Yearbook of Agricultural Department, 

 U.S.A. for 1908, by A. K. Fisher. 



