REPTILIAN LIFE 171 



ated into the wonders of natural liistory. Day by 

 day, in tlie pursuit of their sustenance, these crea- 

 tures, some of them exquisitely beautiful in their 

 coloring, are waging constant warfare against the 

 great army of insects which must be kept in check, 

 or life upon this earth, of both plant and animal kind, 

 would be menaced by a terrible scourge. 



That every existing creature, every organism, no 

 matter how minute or lowly, has some duty to per- 

 form upon this earth is indisputable. Nature toler- 

 ates no useless creatures ; a race of such must rapidly 

 degenerate and perish. Thus does reptilian life per- 

 form its duties ; and cannibalism amons^ its own mem- 

 bers, as well as its natural enemies of the wilds, keep 

 it within the bounds of Nature's plans. 



