CHAPTER VIII. 



PETS. 



THERE are instincts the study of which gives one a 

 curious insight into the methods by which Nature at- 

 tains her objects. Self-preservation is said to be her 

 first law, and it is easy to see how " natural selection" 

 could enforce compliance with such a decree : creatures 

 that had mastered the art of taking care of themselves 

 survived, the others perished; and the obvious neces- 

 sity of that result still fills the school of life with eager 

 pupils. But there are non-egotistical instincts whose 

 real purpose has been carefully concealed. The in- 

 amorato blindly sacrifices his interests to those of the 

 species. The ostentatious nabob becomes a patron of 

 art and industries. "Vanitas," says Burton, "is a far 

 better almoner than Caritas." The hobby-rider, the col- 

 lector, the curiosity-monger, tug stoutly in the harness 

 of science. Nature, it seems, rather mistrusts our sense 

 of duty, and thinks it safer to bait a task with the 

 semblance of a pleasure whenever she wants to engage 

 our services on behalf of our fellow-men. 



With the same trick she overcomes the still greater 

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