The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-15

rows The question which is likely TO
arise in the minds Of thoughtful persons
is. why it would not be better to give
some attention TO preserving and propa-
eating native species which are fast be
coming extinct
II Is always more or less dubious
business to introduce "a strange animal
into lands in which it is not INDIGENOUS
Il NJ survives the migration IL is apt
To multiply and replenish the earth in
ways not provided for in Scripture. by
killing of the native animals which
happen to stand in its was-. About half
of the most nOXiOus species of insects
which are troubling the farmers have
come from other countries, or been de-
yeIoped under the fostering influence Of
the shotgun. which has removed their
natural enemies and left them free TO
feed themselves on the best Of the far
mers crop. Some of the money spent in
experimenting on fancy stocks might
be much better spent on game preseTv-
ing. with especial attention To useful or
beautiful animals indigenous here,
which are becoming .extermiuated
through the greed of pot-hunung-
These species need bat little encourage
ment in order to flourish exceedingly,
and on general principles. it is better to
keep the balance of nature as nearly
UDd.sturbed as may be.
The reasons for this natural balance
of power have come to be understood
only recently. as the history Of civiliza-
ton goes-that is, only since the theory
of evolution came 10 be generally dis
Cussed. The opinion of the average far
Iaer. theologian. and scientist formerly
was that it was mans duty 60 upset the
natural condition Of things as far as he
could in order to bring the earth into
harmony with his own ideas; that all
creation was destined solely for his use,
and that when any particular kind OF
animal was in his way. or turned out
10 be useless To him, he had the right
to eXterminaJe it. As n matter of fact.
however. the proportion between ami
mails, plants, and the human race was
established during centuries Of infinite
" slow evolution. in which mans pow
ers Of offence and defence were limited.
ard when, through the invention Of
gUnpOwder and the steam engine, he
was enabled suddenly to go all over the
world and kill practically everything ne
saw except insects. the natural cOnse-
/ quence Of il was that in a great many
/ localities the insects and other vermin
too small 10 he killed or captured, be
came pest This state Of things was
inevitable But the way in which to
remedy the discomfOrts arising from it
I Is certainly not to introduce new species
TO make confusion worse COMPOUNDED,
but rather to preserve those already on
the ground. Some strictly enforced
laws for the protection Of insect-eaunE
birds would probably dispose Of the in
/ sect pest in very short order; and the
native squirrel. deer, and other game
which used TO be plentiful In the parts
/ of our country now thickly settled
would undoubtedly abound there again
with sufficient encouragement In fact
! the deer which were driven out Of New
England and northern New York by the
/ encroachments of civilization are all
ready. owing 70 the abandonment Of
once-cultivated farms. returning 20
| their old haunts. and the people Of those
/ regions are eating verison occasionally
many Of them for the first time in their
/ lives.