March 28, 1913] 



SCIENCE 



487 



even than this would be a thorough investiga- 

 tion by the various state and provincial game 

 or conservation commissions of the habits of 

 the species concerned, with special reference to 

 food preferences and commercial values. 



Protection of those species whose numbers 

 are not yet reduced below a critical point 

 would doubtless be possible and adequate. 

 Conservation of beavers has been successful in 

 such cases. Nature distinctly favors some 

 of the species through their practically inac- 

 cessible habitats, or their self-protective in- 

 stincts. It is evident that protective legisla- 

 tion would consequently vary with the species 

 and with the conditions of its existence in 

 particular localities. Where one mammal 

 may require a five-year closed season, another 

 may need protection during the breeding sea- 

 son only, and for still another, protection may 

 be altogether unnecessary at present. 



There is further reason for paying heed to 

 these elements of our fauna. The fact that 

 man is the dominant species does not justify 

 his wanton extermination of any members of 

 the living world around him. It has taken 

 nature geologic ages to evolve these animals, 

 and it is our duty to be considerate in our 

 dealings with subordinate forms of life. 



There is no resurrection or recovery of an ex- 

 tinct species, and it is not merely tliat here and 

 there one species out of many is threatened, but 

 that whole genera, families and orders are in 

 danger. 



Dr. Mitchell in a recent number of Science' 

 has forcibly called attention to a number of 

 facts, full of sinister warning to those who 

 dislike to stand by and see the careless de- 

 struction of our native fauna. Allow me to 

 quote again for the sake of emphasis : 



Each generation is the guardian of the existing 

 resources of the world; it has come into a great 

 inheritance, but only as a trustee. 



In the opinion of the vsriter the intrinsic 

 interest and the humanitarian arguments, as 

 well as the economic one, emphasize strongly 

 the desirability for wise attention to this les- 

 ser problem of the fur-bearing mammals, none 

 the less than to the careful conservation of all 



= 1912, p. 353 and following. 



the rest of the wild life yet remaining at our 

 disposal. Walter P. Taylor 



Museum op Vertebrate Zoology, 

 University of California 



the writings of william g. sumner 

 To THE Editor of Science: A little over a 

 year ago the Tale University Press published 

 a collection of essays by the late Professor 

 William Graham Sumner. It is now proposed 

 to publish another volume to be called " Earth 

 Hunger and Other Essays," during the fall of 

 1913 or a little later. In connection with this 

 enterprise, I wish, as editor, to bespeak your 

 assistance. 



It is desired, in this proposed volume, to col- 

 lect (aside from more extended matter) all of 

 Professor Sumner's shorter publications. 

 Many of his best and most characteristic ut- 

 terances were brief articles, struck off on oc- 

 casion, and widely scattered in newspapers and 

 magazines. We have little trouble in finding 

 his longer articles, but it is difficult to locate 

 many a short and vivid fragment. Since the 

 other volume was issued, not a few sugges- 

 tions have come to our ears to the effect that 

 another time we should not overlook this or 

 that pregnant utterance — some striking thing 

 which has riveted the attention of our courte- 

 ous censor, and which he would like to have at 

 hand. Sometimes such a constructive critic 

 can not remember just where or when he has 

 seen such an article, and suggests vaguely that 

 it was " in the papers," or " in one of the 

 weeklies." 



Now we want all these scattered materials, 

 and it has occurred to me that suggestions 

 might be forthcoming as to their whereabouts, 

 if our present effort to make a final and ex- 

 haustive collection of Sumneriana were an- 

 nounced to your readers. We should be glad 

 to examine any materials that might come 

 within the scope of the proposed volume, and 

 to receive any suggestions, however vague, as to 

 utterances, brief or extended, from the pen of 

 Professor Sumner. Materials sent me in care 

 of the Tale University Press will be acknowl- 

 edged and promptly returned after examina- 

 tion. 



