THE WILD FAUNA OF THE EMPIEE 43 



with weapons in their possession. This, of course, is another dith- 

 culty which, however, can be overcome if suitable positions are 

 taken for the reserves in the first instance. 



And here I would urge again, as I have already done at a 

 meeting of this Society, that sanctuaries should not be made along- 

 side or near railways or navigable rivers if such positions are at 

 all likely to be suitable for settlement, I am quite aware that at 

 the present time it may be less expensive to look after them if so 

 placed; but one must look farther ahead than that. As settlement 

 increases, the most valuable sites will be those I have mentioned. 

 A good reserve may also be a good farming or grazing country, 

 and the settlers will wish to get as near as possible to the means 

 of exporting their produce. The result will be an outcry from the 

 settlers : ' Give us this land and make your reserve elsewhere ' ; 

 and it will be backed up by the railway company and public 

 opinion. 



When a reservation has once been made far away from railways 

 and settlements, then if it is proposed to run a new railway through 

 or alongside the reserve, every effort should be made to oppose it, 

 provided that it is possible to build the railway further away, 

 without damaging the interests of the railway company or other 

 commercial undertakings. We must not forget that there are 

 three questions of greater importance in young Colonies and Pro- 

 tectorates than game preservation, and these are the native question, 

 the rights and needs of settlers, and commercial undertakings 

 endeavouring to develop the resources of the country. 



Now if we press game preservation to the detriment of any of 

 these we shall be doing the Society an infinity of harm, at the 

 same time losing the backing of public opinion, which is of the very 

 greatest use in advancing our object. 



I do not say weakly give way the moment there is any opposi- 

 tion, but I do say think well beforehand and arrange your reserves, 

 as far as possible, so that they will not in the future be likely to 

 be attacked with good cause. 



With regard to the keeping down of carnivora I will say nothing. 

 This question is so thoroughly well appreciated that it will not, 

 I am sure, ever be overlooked. 



The last point with which I want to deal in regard to reserva- 

 tions is the question of inbreeding, which will surely lead to 

 deterioration and eventual extermination of the herds. 



The Yellowstone Park is often quoted as an ideal reserve ; but 

 whereas in this reserve you have only the wapiti, mule, deer, bear, 

 and buffalo inhabiting the lower elevations, and sheep the higher, 

 in a reserve in Africa you may have twenty-four different species, 

 all inhabiting more or less the same country; and to protect all 

 these species you require a very much larger area of country in 

 proportion to the very much greater number of species which it is 

 your object to preserve. 



