258 DAN BEARD'S ANIMAL BOOK 



times clearing the water, only to fall back again, 

 it dropped the fish and flew wearily away. 



To understand the Yellowstone animals we must 

 remember the brutes are direct and practical in 

 their minds, and to what does not immediately con- 

 cern the gratification of their desires they pay little 

 attention. 



Fear greatly influences the actions of man and 

 beast, and creatures absolutely devoid of this gov- 

 erning principle would soon be exterminated. The 

 presence of man has always meant disaster and 

 death to wild animals, so that the taint of his pres- 

 ence in the air is enough to stampede a herd of a 

 thousand elk. 



It is easy, then, to understand that "wild ani- 

 mals" are only animals which fear man; and when 

 experience can show their fears groundless, they 

 will no more heed man than they will any other 

 harmless creature. This is the happy state which 

 converts Yellowstone Park into an Eden for all 

 lovers of nature. 



Long live the Animal Republic! 



