9« 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE FARM 



Besides the bison, "noblest of American quadrupeds," there 

 were deer and elk and moose, of wide distribution; in the 

 Rockies were mountain sheep and goats; and in their foot- 

 hills, the graceful pronghorn. Of these, the red deer remains 

 where given protection ; indeed, though never domesticated, 

 it seems to thrive on the borders of 

 civilization. Recently in New Eng- 

 land, farmers have had to kill off wild 

 deer in order to save their crops. 



Of the beasts of prey, all the lar- 

 ger species, bears and pumas and 

 lynxes and wolves, have been killed 

 or driven out; and probably most of 

 us would be well enough satisfied to 

 have all those that remain, confined 

 in zoological parks. Foxes linger in 

 the larger wooded tracts. Skunks 

 are probably more abundant than in 

 primeval times ; for there is more food 

 available and they are not hunted 

 very eagerly by most of us. Minks 

 and weasels and raccoons haunt the 

 swamps and marshes, and being both small and alert, main- 

 tain themselves very well. 



The rodents have fared better under agricultural conditions 

 than the two preceding groups. The destruction of the beasts 

 of prey removed their most dangerous natural enemies, and 

 the growing of crops in the fields increased their available 

 food. It is altogether probable, therefore, that where special 

 measures are not taken by man to destroy them, such rodents 

 as the woodchucks, gophers, meadow mice and rabbits are 

 more abundant now than in primeval times. At any 

 rate, we can, by taking proper measures, find plenty of 

 them. 



Fig. 48. A pronghorn buck. 



