Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-19
DAILY EVENING STAR.
Rapidity Of Animal Increase.

ANSAL W Suc ulitCt destuCy VI HAL, Ills
indirect influence in multiplying the num-
bers OF large herbivorous quadrupeds of
domestic races, may be regarded as one
of the most obviate causes of the ex-
termination of species. On this, and on
several other grounds, the introduction
of the horse, OK, and other mammalia
into America, and their rapid propaga-
ton over this continent within the last
three centuries, is fact of great import
ance in natural history. The extraor-
binary herds of wild cattle and horses
which overran the plains of South America,
sprang from very few pairs first carried
over by the Spaniards and they prove
that the wide geographical range of large
species in great continents does not ne
ceSsarily imply that they have existed
there from remote periods. 1t is believed
there exist, in the Pampas of Buenos
Ayres, twelve million COWS and three
million horses, without comprising in
this enumeration the cattle that have no
acknowledged proprietor. In the Llanos
of Caracas, the proprietors of pastoral
farms are entirely ignorant of the number
of cattle they possess. The young are
branded with a mark peculiar to each
herd, and some ofthe most wealthy owners
mark as many as fourteen thousand a
year. In the northern plains, from the
Orinoco to the Lake of Maracaybo, it is
reckoned that one million two hundred
thousand oxen, one hundred and eighty
thousand horses, and ninety thousand
mules, wander at large. In some parts
of the valley of the Mississippi, especially
in the country of the Usage Indians, wild
horses are immensely numerous.
The establishment of black cattle in
America dates from Columbus second
voyage to St. Domingo. They there null
tiplied rapidly; and that island presently
became kind of nursery from which
these animals were successfully trans
ported to various parts of the continental
coast, and from thence into the interior.
Notwithstanding these numerous exporta-
tons, in twenty.seyen years after the dis
covery of the island, herds of four thou
sand head were not uncommon, and There
were even some that amounted to eight
thousand. In 1887, the number of hides
exported from st. Domingo alone was
thirty-five thousand four hundred and
forty-four; and in the same year there
were exported sixty-four thousand three
hundred and fifty from the ports of New
Spain. This was in the sixty-fifth year
after the taking of Mexico, previous to
which event the Spaniards, who came into
that country, had not been able to en-
gage in anything else than war. All our
readers are aware that these animals are
now established throughout the Ameri-
can continent, from Canada to Paraguay.
The ass has tbriven very generally in the
New World; and in Quito they ran wild,
and multiplied in amazing numbers, so as
to become a nuisance. They grazed to.
getber in herds, and, when attacked, de-
tended themselves with their mouths. II
horse happened to stray into the places
where they fed, they all fell upon him,
and did not cease biting and kicking till
they left him dead. The first hogs were
carried to America by Columbus, and
established in the island of st. Domingo
in the year 1893. In succeeding years
they were introduced into other places
where the Spaniards settled; and, in the
space of half century, they were found
established in the New World, from the
latitude OF % deg. north, to the 10th deg.
of south latitude.