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THE 
PROTECTION OF WILD LIFE IN YORKSHIRE.* 
R. FORTUNE, F.Z.S 
It has frequently been said to me that it is not necessary to 
trouble about the question of the protection of wild life in our 
county, as wild creatures generally are able to look after 
themselves, and are in no danger of extermination. With this 
view, however, I differ entirely. There are species in these 
islands which are rapidly disappearing and when once they have 
gone, nothing can replace them. It is the duty of the present 
generation to preserve our fauna in its entirety as a solemn 
task, and to pass on to future generations the safety of our 
wild creatures. 
No one man or no body of men should be allowed to bring 
any species of mammal or bird to a danger point of exter- 
mination, because for the moment they interfere with some 
matter in which they are concerned, either from a sporting 
or economic point of view. If allowed to do so they will rob 
thousands of individuals of the present and future generations 
of the pleasure that would be derived from personal knowledge 
of the species destroyed. 
We can have no better illustration of how quickly a species 
can be stamped out absolutely, than that of the American 
Passenger Pigeon ; the last example of which died of old age 
in the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens on September 7th, 1914, 
after being in captivity, I think, about 27 years. This bird 
used to flourish in the United States in extraordinary numbers. 
Even twenty years ago it was abundant in certain parts. With 
mysterious rapidity it has become extinct. 
The Chough might perhaps be cited as an example of a 
species which is in great danger of disappearing entirely from 
the British Isles. 
There are a lot of influences at work at the present day 
which help to bring about the destruction of our wild life. 
The 4,000 or so members and associates of the Yorkshire 
Naturalists’ Union have a reputation, not a common one I 
am sorry to think as far as naturalists in general are concerned, 
for doing their utmost to’ protect, not only the mammals, birds 
and other vertebrates of the county, but the plant life too. 
Their exertions have also had excellent results in the preserva- 
tion and the prevention of the destruction of many of our 
‘beauty spots and pathways. é; 

*The Presidential Address to the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, 
delivered at Keighley on December 4th, 1915. _ 
1916 Feb. 1. 
