The Powers interested in Africa have signed a Convention for
the preservation of the wild animals within their dominions. Lions, leopards, hymnas, baboons, all birds of prey (except vultures), owls, crocodiles, and poisonous snakes, are all given up to the destroyers, and may be killed at sight. All other species, including elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, deer of all kinds, and buffaloes, are to be protected by local laws, the drift of which will be to prohibit absolutely the killing of their females and their young, to demand licenses from hunters, to establish in certain cases a close time,
and to define and preserve reserves within which the beasts may multiply in security. Moreover, heavy export. duties may be imposed when advisable upon skins and horns. We fancy this last proviso will be the most effective, as the licensed hunters will be uncontrollable in the forests; but the broad idea is excellent, and may ultimately be accepted by all Europeans in Africa. Outsiders find it hard to under. stand why rhinoceroses should be preserved or owls con. demned, but the officers who framed the Convention have evidently taken pains to inform themselves. One is sorry for the lion, who will soon be only a tradition in Africa, as he already is in India; but we suppose in these demo- cratic days we must not plead for kings.
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