A REINDEER HERD AT CAPE PRINCE OF WALES, ALASKA: MANY FAWNS ARE TO BE
SEEN IN THE HERD, AS THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER THE FAWNING
SEASON]
Then through imperfectly understood changes of environment a tremendous
mortality among the wild life took place and destroyed practically all
of the splendid large mammals, which, however, have left their records
in the asphalt pits of California and other fossil beds throughout the
country. This original fauna was followed by an influx of other species
which made up the fauna when America was discovered.
At the time of its discovery by Columbus this continent had only one
domesticated mammal--the dog. In most instances the ancestors of the
Indian dogs appear to have been the native coyotes or gray wolves, but
the descriptions of some dogs found by early explorers indicate very
different and unknown ancestry. Unfortunately these strange dogs became
extinct at an early period, and thus left unsolvable the riddle of
their origin.
Before the discovery of America the people of the Old World had
domesticated cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, and cats; but
none of these domestic animals, except the dog, existed in America
until brought from Europe by the invaders of the New World.
The wonderful fauna of the asphalt pits had vanished long before
America was first colonized by white men, and had been replaced by
another mainly from the Old World, less varied in character, but
enormously abundant in individuals. Although so many North American
mammals were derived from Asia, some came from South America, while
others, as the raccoons, originated here.