NATURE AS AN ORGANISM 



birds of prey ; so that any disturbance of the equilibrium of Nature 

 may make itself felt in a wholly unexpected direction. 



From such considerations it indubitably follows that birds and 

 beasts of prey are necessary. They regulate the proper mutual propor- 

 tions of the individual species ; if they were absent, now one and 

 now another species of predatory bird or animal would multiply so 

 profusely that it would become unduly destructive, or it might even 

 finally perish from lack of food or disease. Now, since man himself 

 is a beast of prey, he seeks to drive his competitors away from the 

 banquet of life. If he himself wants to eat the Pacas and Preyas, 

 he tries to exterminate the foxes and birds of prey which have an 

 appetite for the same food. But how can we hope that the harmony 

 of Nature will be preserved if man himself plays the part of the 

 beasts of prey? 



In any case, the most requisite measure is to ensure that close 

 seasons are established for wild birds and animals. For the fox 

 can never exterminate the creatures which are his prey, since his 

 strength and cunning are so proportioned with regard to the swiftness 

 of these rodents, and their ability to conceal themselves, that an 

 equilibrium is maintained. Man, with his superior intelligence and 

 his long-range weapons, can and will, if he does not restrain him- 

 self, exterminate all these creatures ; moreover, by transforming the 

 landscape he deprives them of their natural environment. 



There is also a second consideration. Man shoots his game as it 

 offers itself to his fowling-piece or rifle ; swift and slow, all are within 

 reach of his gun. The beasts of prey, on the other hand, find it 

 difficult to catch the creatures which they hunt if these are speedy 

 and full of life. Their victims are mostly the weaker individuals, 

 and if an animal is sick or wounded they are certain to catch it. 

 We know that our dogs can always tell by the scent if one of their 

 own kind, or even if their master, is ill; and we know that when 

 a bitch is on heat dogs will come running in from such a distance 

 that we cannot imagine how they can have learned of her condition. 

 In Brazil, as in Germany, I have often seen carnivora quite close 

 to their usual prey, yet neither animal seemed to take any notice 

 of the other ; for both were healthy and on the alert, and a chase 

 would have been unavailing. But if a beast of prey discovers the 

 trail of a sick animal it knows at once that it will be able to secure 

 it, and follows the trail until it has seized its victim. 



For this reason the herds of cattle on the steppes expel all sick 

 and aged animals from their community, and other animals too 



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