TSETSE AND FAUNA
Sirt,—My attention has been called to Mr. Cleland Scott's article, under the title Tsetse and Fauna, in your issue of January 31st last. With much of what Mr. Scott writes about conditions in Africa everybody interested in the preservation of wild life, and acquainted with the events in that regard in Africa, and especially British Africa, will be in sympathy. But I think I am entitled to ask what is the foundation for his attack upon the " inactivity " of the Society for the Preservation of the Fauna of the Empire? A private society, such as this is, cannot control the policy or action of the Governments of Dominions, Colonies and Mandated Territories. It can do no more than endeavour to influence them. I do not think that anybody who takes the trouble to read the journal of the society could regard it as inactive in that endeavour. At the present time the society's representative, Captain Keith Caldwell, formerly game warden in Kenya Colony, is visiting most of the Colonial Territories of British Africa expressly for the purpose of conferring with their respec- tive game departments and Governments in the endeavour to secure whole-hearted implementation of the Convention of 1933 for the Preser- vation of the African Fauna, of which convention, incidentally, this society was the chief author. It is, moreover, a direct result of the representations made by this society to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the East African Governments have called a conference on the subject, to be held next April, at which Captain Caldwell will, by invitation, represent the society. The society is very willing to learn, and if Mr. Cleland Scott has any advice to offer us as to how we can more effectively achieve our objects in Africa it will be gratefully received. —I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, HENRY G. MAtiatc:E, C/o Zoological Society of London, N.W.8. Sec., S.P.F.E.
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