98 



HISTORY OF FARM 



Besides the bison, "noblest of American quadrupeds" there 

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

 Rockies were mountain sheep and goat : and in their foot- 

 hills, the graceful prong-horn. 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 

 l}Tixes 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 tracks. 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 beast 

 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 woodchuck, 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 prong-horn buck. 



