THE PRESERVATION OF OUR FAUNA 197 



Dr. Ritchie has supplied a fascinating study in faunal 

 evolution in " The Influence of Man on Animal Life in 

 Scotland." I know of no better exposition of the need 

 for sensible and well-considered protection than is supplied 

 by this book. 



Dr. Ritchie divides his subject into two parts delib- 

 erate and indirect interference with animal life. In the 

 first he groups domestication, intentional destruction of 

 animals for various reasons, protection of animals for 

 other reasons, and the introduction of new forms. In 

 the second he deals with changes in natural environment 

 and the influence on animals, cultivation, civilisation, 

 and the accidental or unintentional introduction of 

 creatures for the most part classed as pests. An entirely 

 different method of grouping or analysis of results would 

 be the dividing of those from which man derives benefit 

 from those which are detrimental to his welfare. De- 

 liberately or unintentionally man has in his dealings with 

 animals derived profit and loss, and he has by no means 

 invariably succeeded in attaining the ends that he desired, 

 or which, at first blush, seemed likely to result. Animals, 

 consciously or unconsciously, treat man as a competing 

 species, and, however warmly a Krapotkin may advocate 

 mutual aid, or a Drummond urge the harmony of nature, 

 the painful fact remains, man and the primitive protozoon 

 alike strive and have to strive to exist at all. 



So long as the disturbance of nature is confined to culti- 

 vation of land or domestication of useful animals, necessi- 

 ties for man's existence, this disturbance is not only 

 justifiable, but a duty. It may mean, it is certain to 

 mean, destiuction of many existing forms as well as 

 individuals, but the loss cannot be helped; it is true, 

 however, that in few cases has the cultivation for food 

 or the destruction of animals for the same reason been the 

 cause of extinction; it is when commercialism demands 



