CONCLUSION. 303 



storks, in times fertile in reptiles, have acquired the habit of dwelling 

 among us. 



Here an observation becomes essential. We often construe as a 

 sign of mistrust the bird's flight and his fear of the human hand. 

 This fear is only too well founded. But even if it did not exist, the 

 bird is an infinitely nervous and delicate creature, which suffers if 

 simply touched. 



My robin, which belongs to a very robust and friendly race of 

 birds, which continually draws near us, as near as possible, and 

 which assuredly has no fear of his mistress, trembles to fall into her 

 hand. The rustling of his plumes, the derangement of his down, all 

 bristling when he has been handled, he keenly dislikes. The sight, 

 above all, of the outstretched hand about to seize him, makes him 

 recoil instinctively. 



When he lingers about in the evening, and does not return into 

 his cage, he does not refuse to be replaced within it ; but sooner than 

 see himself caught, he turns his back, hides in a crease or fold of the 

 gown where he well knows he must infallibly be taken. 



All this is not mistrust. 



The art of domestication will make no progress if it occupies 

 itself only with the services which tamed animals may render 

 to man. 



It ought to proceed in the main from the consideration of the 

 service which man may render the animals ; 



Of his duty to initiate all the tenants of this world into a gentler, 

 more peaceable, and superior society. 



In the barbarism in which we are still plunged, we know of only 

 two conditions for the animal, absolute liberty or absolute slavery ; 



