Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-26

IL 10 interesting " ODStTNH lUdl lDe spread |
of western civilization in India is having
the effect of making necessary legal measures
for the protection of wild birds and game,
and at the same time is bringing about the
gradual determination of the wild beasts and
poisonous snakes with which that country
has always been infested. As the extent of
the land under cultivation has increased i
beasts of prey have of course been de-
stroyed or driven OF by the clearing of for
ests and the incoming Of man, and innocent /
herds of deer and antelope have gone with |
them. The government has also stimulated |
the slaughter Of Hoxious animals by giving |
pecuniary rewards for their destruction, in
consequence Of which hountics &,4l7 wild
beasts and AZ 500 venomous snakes are Off
cially returned rs having been destroyed in
1856 Meantime English sportsmen are
keeping up the pursuit OF wild animals, i'll
which they have been assiduously engaged
for a century past
From every direction, therefore, the beasts
Of prey arc attacked 10y man and civilization,
So that their practical determination has be
come question of time only, though plainly
it mus be a long time, whereas under tho old
Hinloo and MOhamme,ian dynastieS they en-
J'Ntu I've immunity % ltlI ttS VT
know, no rewards were offered then for their
destruction, and they we're hunted merely to
obtain living wild animals for the menaGerIes
Of the native poteniatrS, who delighted in tho
fights of wild beasts.
But in this wholesale destruction, wild
birds and game desirable 70 preserve are in
cluded, so that in SO Il law for the protec-
ton of wild elephants especially was enacted,
and last year Lord pulferu and his legisla-
tive council promulgated q new game law of
more general application. The wanton
slaughter Of wild elephants had been carried
to such an extent that it seemed as if the
species might become extinct in India, as the
buffalo Is becoming IN this country There
had also been great increase in the NOR
tally among tame elephants employed for
military purposes, particularly during the
protractei campaigns Of the mutiuv of 1857,
the elephant, dcspit, his huge strength, be
ing Of delicate constitution, and requiring
more care than h. could receive in such cam
paignins. The consequence was that the
price Of elephants more than doubled and as
tame elephant, do not breed in captivity the
only source OF further supply lay in the cap
ture Of the wild animals.
Therefor in $50 law was passed TO pro-
tect the wild elephants from being hunted
for the sake Of their ivory and to require
the professional hunters Of elephants to take
out license, under which the government
has the first choice of all newly CAPTURED an
finals for its military purposes The law of
Lord D1lTarin, enacted last year, bears
general likeness to our own game laws, pro
vides for close or breeding season, and pro
tects many inSectiyorous birds as valuable
allies of the farmer, aud also the pea fowl,
which is regarded Is a sacred bird in many
parts of India
1t seems that almost every game bird that
had its breeding place in India was PURSUED
during the whole twelve months # the wear
the migratory BIRDS, of course, faring better.
because they escaped for a season from the
nets and traps and guns OF their human
enemies The commissioner of Sindh re-
ported, for example, that 10000 black par
tridges were DESTROYED, in the course of a
few days to supply the European demand
for their skins, and, as cheap guns have now
got into the hands of the native bird slayers,
the slaughter was enormous and continuous
among all varieties valuable for their plum
age. Sportsmen also complained of the
scarcity of game birds, and measures for
to be applied to the east also. so that they
might be left at peace in their breeding sea
son.
The protection was also extended by Lord
Dufferins law to all animals Of game not
noxiOus in order that the deer and antelope
might not be driven out or destroyed But
of course this feature has to be carefully
guarded that beasts of prey may not be in
cluded, for even now the loss of human life
because of these fierce animals is very great
annually as the table 0f 1886 shows a total
of 2,1O7 persons killed by wild elephants
tigers, leopards bears, wolves, hyenas and
other animals. The number Of animals
killed in 1856 by natives under the stimulus
of the bouuties offered was % ,407. Except
50 far Us the tigers were concerned, man had
vast advantage in the slaughter. But the
tigers lost only 4G4 while they killed 92S
In some OF the provinces the tigers were fan
ahead. In lower Bengal, for example 5S(
persons were killed by tigers, but only 2l'
tigers were killed Among the 'other ami
mails mentioned in the tables the jackal i
the chief, and their victims are doubles
many more than are officially returned TIL.
list Of these uu-peciicd animals includes, be
sides, wild bears, bi>ons and crocodiles
There were also ~ C3J cattle killed by will,
beasts in 1NNG, tigers destroying %, 100 an,
leopards - 20 The number of human be
ings killed by snakes was returned as o., 1874
and Of cattle as 2,5li
The serpent is accordingly the most deadl
enemy of man in India, nearly ten times a
many perishinE by his bite as are killed b
wild beasts. IN tine province Of Bengal alon
I., l.y is