98 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 ismorefood 
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. 
Fic. 48. A pronghorn buck. 
