For a number of years Virginia wildlfe biologists have thought that a critical review of past and game conditions in Virginia would serve as an excellent background tor planning future game management activities in the state. No study such as this has been attempted in Virginia; however, other states (e.g., Vermont and New Hampshire, have compiled historical summaries of past wildlife conditions within their borders. Generally these works have been limited to the compilation of historical facts; no ideas for future management plans were rpoposed. No historical summary and critical review based on such a summary has been undertaken so fas as is known. In order to collect the most pertinent information on the history of Virginia's wildlife... / Ph. D.