CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 415 



of creation on my thin head by denouncing them 

 all as cruel monsters, but my experience is that, in 

 the majority of cases, horses are rendered vicious 

 by brutal treatment on the part of men. A horse, 

 like a dog, has a keen sense of justice ; he never 

 forgets unmerited punishment, but is in a constant 

 state of nervous anxiety when ridden by a man 

 who treats him unkindly. A dog exhibits a similar 

 feeling of distrust of a cruel master by crouching 

 up to him when called, instead of being delighted 

 to see him, and according him a frisky welcome. 

 I will give an instance of what I once saw a 

 bad-tempered man do with a bird in India. The 

 animal was a small green parrot which the man had 

 taught to perform a certain trick ; but I don't know 

 what it was, because the parrot did not execute it 

 when asked to do so. The owner of the bird was 

 a very mild private individual, who I thought was fond 

 of animals, and who asked me to see the effect of 

 his training on this parrot. He tried to get the 

 little thing to perform, but as it would not, for 

 some cause best known to itself, he actually wrung 

 its neck in my presence ! I shall never forget 

 that incident, because it gave me one of the greatest 

 shocks I have ever experienced. This was, of course, 

 an exceptional case of temper, which I mention only 

 to show to what extremities a violent burst of rage 

 may carry a sane individual. We often hear of 

 an uncontrollable temper, but I believe that every 

 man can, if he likes, govern his rage, unless, of 



