EMPIRE ZOOLOGY.
I hear that England is co-operating zoologically with those pioneers who are striving to populate the northern regions of Canada with congenial stock. The requisites are curious. The domestic cattle fail to endure the climate partly because it is their instinct to turn their backs on the storm, an attitude that leaves them easy victims to a snowstorm beating down a declivity. The buffalo, strongly protected by a more than leonine growth of hair in front, faces uphill and can endure the worst onset. Some interesting crosses were made ten years ago between Hereford cattle and buffalo. To another part of Canada yaks were sent (from Woburn) to see whether they were able to resist both the wintry conditions and the subsequent plague of mosquitoes. The " Cowlo," so called, was not a complete success, but it is still hoped to breed a variety of cow and buffalo that shall have the shield of defensive hair over his foreparts and keep the productive qualities of the cow with the endurance of Buffalo or Moose. Similarly it is quite a possibility that a domestic deer may be found to fit certain half-barren districts of Africa.
Previous page
