File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17972784590).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo16amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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150 THE AMERICAX MCSKUM JOURXAL
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McCiitcheon's In Africa Bolibs-MerriU Company Improving each shining hour its area of distribution, and that "the distril)ution of each species marks the limits within which it is able successfully to compete with its environment. It would appear therefore a comparatively easy matter to determine the factors which are accountable for the distribu- tion of any species; and yet no task in natural history is more difficult... .The distribution of one species may depend upon the distril)ution of its food plants or animals, of another upon its natural enemies, of another upon climatic condi- tions; while yet others may be limited in (listril)ution by natural boundaries such as lar^e bodies of water or hiiih mountains." Later, the authors mention the physi- cal obstacle imposed by the Tana River, which "acts as a barrier across the desert portion of the coast slope from Mount Kenia eastward to the sea," separating the ranges of a dozen game animals, including zebras, gi- raffes, oryx, harte- beests, gazelles, an- telopes and wart hogs. One's surprise at the effectiveness of a river barrier is relieved by the remark that "the a^•ersion which most antelopes hnvv for crossing ri\ers is due no doubt chiefly to the fear of attack by the crocodiles which haunt the streams." Throughout the work the animals are discussed with refer- ence to their environ- ment — the features imposed by geogra- phy, vegetation and climate being kept constantly in mind. We are told that the mammals of equa- torial Africa, unlike those of northern regions, "have no definite season for shedding their coats, nor are they sub- ject to any seasonal climatic change which would necessitate such a change." And further, that there seems to be no definite breeding season in East Africa, there being " no climatic necessity for such a habit." Roosevelt's writings on North Ameri- can game animals ha\'e pro\'ed him an unusually keen and accurate observer, eager to learn just what the animals are doing, and certain to record what he has seen while it is still fresh in mind. Hence it is not surprising that his accounts of hunting strange beasts in a new field, as told in his Afr'tcdu Game Trails and Life Ili.sforics of African Game ^l)ti)nah\ should abound in detailed observations, often enlivened with spirited scenes and thrillintr incidents.

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