LOVE OF ANIMALS 



colourless and dreary affair. Yet there are people 

 so constituted, who, being unable to love anything 

 but themselves, are deserving of our commisera- 

 tion, comparing unfavourably in their selfishness 

 with the very creatures they ignore, which, as 

 we are aware, are capable of exhibiting the 

 strongest and most disinterested affection towards 

 those who treat them kindly. We may, however, 

 console ourselves with the reflection that with the 

 majority of us a love for animals is inherent, and 

 the better we understand their ways and habits 

 the more they excite our interest. 



Contrasted with other larger, less-populated 

 countries, and, indeed, with what it was for- 

 merly, England possesses comparatively few wild 

 animals ; and it is sad to reflect that several of 

 these are in danger of becoming extinct by reason 

 of constant persecution. The black rat may be 

 said to have completely vanished, having been 

 supplanted by the more modern brown species, 

 and it is very much to be doubted if we have not 

 suffered considerably by the exchange. The wild- 

 cat is but rarely seen nowadays. Much the same 

 may be said of the marten. The polecat is far 

 from common ; and although the badger still 

 makes its home in the outlying woods in some of 

 our wilder districts, it runs the risk of being ere 

 long exterminated. 



Once only has it been my good fortune to see 

 a veritable wild- cat. [ was fishing in a somewhat 

 wild part of North Wales. Finding that the fish 



