EXTINCTION OF CERTAIN MAMMALS 149 



goose in Jamaica, the goat on St. Helena, and many other instances. 

 It is strange that civilized man, with his boasted scientific attainments 

 and partial conquest of nature, should do so many things detrimental 

 to the interests of the human race things that every student of na- 

 tural science knows are foolish. This is largely because of the difficulty 

 of getting accurate information to the general public. 



The foregoing is the dark side of the picture. The destruction of use- 

 ful animals has been due to ignorance and thoughtlessness, not to 

 viciousness. Lest one get the idea that the human race is altogether de- 

 praved, let us turn now to the bright side. Man has entered into 

 great waste spaces and made them blossom and bring forth food and 

 other products in abundance. He has carried water in canals to irri- 

 gate arid tracts, where now are fields of waving grain. He has planted 

 orchards and shade trees, surrounded his home with flowers and shrub- 

 bery and given to the world much of beauty to partly compensate for 

 beauty he has ruthlessly destroyed. He has developed and introduced 

 many improved varieties of fruits, vegetables and animals and in many 

 ways bettered living conditions for the race. In other words, though 

 some of his activities have been destructive, others have been con- 

 structive. He need only be properly and convincingly informed, to de- 

 mand that needless destruction of useful wild life shall cease. 



