THE BLACK BEAR is an interesting citizen. He harms nobody nor anything; he affords good sport; he objects to being exterminated, and wherever in North America he is threatened with extermination, he should at once be given protection! A black bear _in the wilds_ is harmless. In captivity, posed as a household "pet," he is decidedly dangerous, and had best be given the middle of the road. In big forests he is a grand stayer, and will not be exterminated from the fauna of the United States until Washington is wrecked by anarchists. THE AMERICAN BISON.--I regard the American bison species as now reasonably secure against extermination. This is due to the fact that it breeds persistently and successfully in captivity, and to the great efforts that have been put forth by the United States Government, the Canadian Government, the American Bison Society, the New York Zoological Society, and several private individuals. The species reached its lowest ebb in 1889, when there were only 256 head in captivity and 835 running wild. The increase has been as follows: 1888--W.T. Hornaday's census 1,300 1902--S.P. Langley's census 1,394 1905--Frank Baker's census 1,697 1908--W.T. Hornaday's census 2,047 1910--W.P. Wharton's census (in North America) 2,108 1912--W.P. Wharton's census (in North America) 2,907 To-day, nearly one-half of the living bison are in very large governmental parks, perpetually established and breeding rapidly, as follows: IN THE UNITED STATES. Yellowstone Park fenced herd, founded by Congress 125 Montana National Bison Range, founded by The American Bison Society 69 Wichita Bison Range, founded by The New York Zoological Society 39 Wind Cave Bison Range, S. Dakota, founded by Am. Bison Society To be stocked Niobrara (Neb.) National Bison Range, now in process of creation To be stocked IN CANADA. Buffalo Park, Wainwright, Alberta 1,052 Elk Island Park, Alberta 53 Rocky Mountains Park, Banff, Alberta 27 Total National and Provincial Preserves 1,365 Of wild bison there are only three groups: 49 head in the Yellowstone National Park, about 75 Pablo "outlaws" around the Montana Bison Range, and between 300 and 400 head in northern Athabasca, southwest of Fort Resolution, existing in small and widely scattered bands. The efforts of man to atone for the great bison slaughter by preserving the species from extinction have been crowned with success. Two governments and two thousand individuals have shared this task,--solely for sentimental reasons. In these facts we find reason to hope and believe that other efforts now being made to save other species from annihilation will be equally successful. * * * * * CHAPTER XVIII THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF AFRICAN GAME