230 ANIMALS AT WORK AND PLA Y 



brought from Cuba, but mates freely with the con- 

 tinental American species. When the latter is intro- 

 duced to English plantations, it tends to degenerate 

 in size, and is a less free layer ; * but this is probably 

 due to inbreeding, with a view to preserve the wild 

 form. The eland breeds when domesticated as readily 

 as cattle, and the failure to acclimatise this and other 

 African antelopes is due, not to natural, but to economic 

 objections ; it is a gross feeder and fattens slowly, 

 and so fails to hold its own in competition with 

 modern breeds of cattle. 



But though we seem to have reached the limit 

 of profitable domestication, we have no evidence 

 except that of our present experience. The same 

 objection might have been raised with equal force 

 thirty years ago. But the recent reclamation of the 

 ostrich, which may before long be improved in size 

 and in plumage like the fowl, and the impending 

 education of the African elephant, are instances to 

 the contrary. Meantime, man is, in the case of 

 most animals, the sole arbiter as to whether they 

 shall survive or be presently destroyed. In view of 

 the enormous service to man of each single species 

 which is domesticated, he would be improvident to 

 allow one of those which are still wild to disappear ; 



* This has been observed at Whitestaunton Manor in Somersetshire, the 

 property of C. Elton, Esq., Q.C., where the American turkeys have been kept 

 for many years. 



