IN THE SHETLANDS 359 
habituating snakes to the eating of dead meat. An 
interesting, an instructive thing, truly, to see a creature, 
formed, by a long process of evolution, to kill in the 
most marvellous and admirable way, tamely eat some- 
thing that has already been killed! What wretched 
vapidity! Like performing dogs, or monkeys, dressed 
in men’s clothes. Where, then, is the soul of the 
naturalist ? 
These views I would apply to every beast of prey 
in the Gardens, each one of which, in my opinion, 
has a gross wrong done it in not being allowed to 
do that which both its soul and body expressly com- 
mission it to do—as though a sentient musical instru- 
ment, throbbing to play, should never, in all its faded 
life, be given the opportunity of emitting a note. 
The misery of such privation is far beyond that 
which would attend the energy now so cruelly re- 
strained. It is out of all proportion to it, in my 
opinion. Not only snakes, then, but the lion and 
tiger, too, should, by my will, kill their prey ; or, if 
this were too costly a proceeding—though I see not 
why it should be—then out with them to the wilds 
they belong to! I would have those only stay, that 
could stay, and be themselves. No neuters in my 
Gardens ! 
If animals have really rights—as to which, and our 
own, I have expressed my views—then snakes must 
necessarily have their share of them. They have a 
right, I maintain, upon that assumption, to eat their 
victuals according to the laws of their being, and I, on 
