64 TEXTATORES. PROBERS. 



resemblance to that of any other bird, its usual note being a 

 harsh, disagreeable screech." 



Some persons have moralized on the cunning of birds. 

 They cannot believe that they should naturally possess any 

 instinct leading them to acts such as in men are accounted 

 evil. But a rational being, and an instinctive animal, have 

 no moral affinity. Why should not animals use stratagem 

 in defence of themselves or their young? Is cunning a 

 greater crime than murder ? And yet who finds fault with 

 an eagle for tearing a lamb to pieces, but the shepherd and 

 his master ; or with a lion for devouring a Bosjesman or a 

 Dutch Boor, but other Bosjesmen and Boors, who may dread 

 the same fate ? If a myrmeleon digs a pit, and lies in wait 

 to seize and devour the unhappy insect that has fallen into 

 it, do not men — moral men — make pits to entrap elephants, 

 hyenas, wolves, and other beasts ? Who blames the fisher 

 for his practices, although his whole art is a piece of mean 

 deceit ? He lets down into the dark sea a web of cord, and 

 persuades the silly herrings that there is nothing in their 

 way. He busks a pointed and barbed hook, casts it on the 

 water, and says to the trout, — there's a nice fat fly for you ! 

 He impales a sprawling frog, and letting it down the stream 

 pretends to attend to the comfort of the hungry pike, who is 

 not insensible of his good fortune until he feels the steel 

 points thrilling his pneuino-gastric nerves. The hunter and 

 the sportsman have at least the qualities of boldness and 

 openness ; but the angler is a mere cheat. 



It is certain, however, that perfect candour and openness 

 are never practised among men. It would even appear that 

 they consider the exercise of these qualities impracticable, 

 or conducive to serious detriment ; and, in polished societies 

 especially, dissimulation is really viewed, even by the most 

 respectable persons, as a necessary defence from the injuries 

 to be looked for from every one around. No merchant, 

 speculator, or tradesman discloses his schemes to his kind 

 neighbours, for he knows that some among them would 

 endeavour to turn such knowledge to his own account ; and 

 all important schemes are kept as profoundly secret as pos- 

 sible, unless publicity be essential to their success. Every 



