mssn 



From a drawing by Charles R. Knight 

 A PRIMITIVE FOUR-TUSKED ELEPHANT, STANDING ABOUT SIX FEET AT THE SHOULDER, 

 THAT LIVED AGES AGO IN THE UNITED STATES (TR1COPHODON MIOCENE) 



of these species thus deprives the world 

 of a marvelous organism which no hu- 

 man power can ever restore. 



Fortunately, although it is too late to 

 save many notable animals, the leading 

 nations of the world are rapidly awaken- 

 ing to a proper appreciation of the value 

 and significance of wild life. As a con- 

 sequence, while the superb herds of game 

 on the limitless plains will vanish, sports- 

 men and nature lovers, aided by those 

 who appreciate the practical value of wild 

 life as an asset, may work successfully to 

 provide that the wild places shall not be 

 left wholly untenanted. 



Although Americans have been notably 

 wasteful of wild life, even to the extermi- 

 nation of numerous species of birds and 

 mammals, yet they are now leading the 

 world in efforts to conserve what is left 

 of the original fauna. No civilized peo- 

 ple, with the exception of the South Af- 

 rican Boers, have been such a nation of 

 hunters as those of the United States. 

 Most hunters have a keen appreciation of 

 nature, and American sportsmen as a 



class have become ardent supporters of 

 a nation-wide movement for the conser- 

 vation of wild life. 



SAVING OUR WILD LIFE 



Several strong national organizations 

 are doing great service in forwarding the 

 conservation of wild life, as the National 

 Geographic Society, the National Asso- 

 ciation of Audubon Societies, American 

 Bison Society, Boone and Crockett Club, 

 New York Zoological Society, American 

 Game Protective and Propagation Asso- 

 ciation, Permanent Wild Life Protective 

 Fund, and others. In addition, a large 

 number of unofficial State organizations 

 have been formed to assist in this work. 



Through the authorization by Congress, 

 the Federal Government is actively en- 

 gaged in efforts for the protection and in- 

 crease of our native birds and mammals. 

 This work is done mainly through the 

 Bureau of Biological Survey of the U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, which is in 

 charge of the several Federal large-rame 



402 



