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of nature. All improvement, I believe, in the history 
of mankind—with the case against vivisection, now— 
can be reduced to that principle; the other is a 
delusion. The only right that nature knows anything 
about is the right which she has conferred on every 
creature, to do whatever it is strong enough to do— 
and that is might. But when might is well guided, 
all is well. 
There is a puffin, now, within a few feet of me, with 
the largest fish I have yet seen one carrying ; as large 
as a Cornish sardine, and that is as large as can 
possibly pass for one. And yet it has several smaller 
ones in its bill, besides. How is this done? For, to 
catch the big fish, it must have opened the beak 
a good deal. That one, however, is right at the base 
of the bill, as though it had been caught first. This, 
I think, supports my ideas as to the modus operandi. 
I do not see how so large a fish could be caught, 
without letting out any little ones that had gone 
before it. But if it were caught first, the beak, which 
can cut into the body, to the bird’s convenience, need 
not be opened more widely, on the next occasion, than 
it would be if it held only a small fish. Did the big 
fish occupy any other position in the bill than that 
which it does, it would be against my theory ; situated 
as it is, it is for it. Pray heaven, then, I don’t see 
another puffin with a big fish !—for it may be held 
differently. 
I have now seen, more im extenso, another young 
kittiwake killed by a herring-gull. Herring-gulls are 
