Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/427



nineteenth century may be regretfully considered, from a zoological standpoint, as an era of extermination, a host of fine species having been recklessly blotted out by man since the year 1800. To instance only a few of these vanished forms, one may mention the Black Emu, the Reunion Starling, the Philip Island Parrot, the Labrador Duck, and the Great Auk. The disappearance of these species alone is a great loss to zoology; yet one might easily multiply examples indicating only too plainly the inexcusable havoc which has been caused amongst the lower animals during the last hundred years.

Brighter prospects, however, seem to be dawning with the twentieth century. The more active measures taken to enforce the due protection of the African great game animals during the last decade appear already to have achieved considerable success; whilst in other parts of the world the efforts of enlightened Governments have been able to arrest the diminution of threatened species, if one may rely upon the latest information concerning the European Bison, the American Bison, and the Scandinavian Elk. Moreover, the gun appears to be gradually being abandoned in favour of field-glass and camera, the observation of animals in their own haunts being now more Zool. 4th ser. vol. VI., October, 1902.