82 CAPTURE OF THE 



ing upon this topic, we take leave to remark, that 

 it is impossible to investigate as we have done 

 the natural history of these animals, without dis- 

 covering how much their capture has been made a 

 matter of mere amusement, and, as it is familiarly, 

 but emphatically, called, of sport. We venture 

 to denounce all such sports as both indefensible 

 and wrong. Animals have been given to pro- 

 vide for the necessities and comforts of man, but 

 not that he may gratify himself with their dying 

 agonies : and he is wholly inexcusable if even here he 

 breaks the golden rule of doing as he would be done 

 by. Sporting with the feelings, and pains, and lives 

 of these creatures, has a strong tendency to lead 

 to cruelty and wickedness ; and, therefore, this inhe- 

 rent tendency should be checked in the bud, and 

 invariably opposed. When we witness, says Peron, 

 a thoughtless sailor hastening for his amusement, 

 club in hand, into the midst of a great herd, and 

 surrounding himself with their dead bodies, we can- 

 not but sigh over this improvidence and cruelty, 

 which lays low so many peaceful, gentle, and un- 

 happy beings. 



When still within their proper bounds, 



And guiltless of offence, they range the air, 



Or take their pastime in the spacious waste, 



There they are privileged ; and he that hunts 



Or harms them there is guilty of a wrong, 



Disturbs th' economy of Nature's realm, 



Who, when she formed, designed them an abode. 



Distinguished much by reason, and still more 



By our capacity of grace Divine, 



From creatures that exist but for our sake. 



