INTRODUCTION 



pathies. The history — for it is the simple 

 record as faithful to the facts as my memory 

 serves — of the little lives it deals with, was 

 written not merely to preserve the evidence 

 of the unsuspected intelligence and moral 

 qualities of a humble creature, but to help 

 in stimulating the interest of my fellow -men 

 in the enjoyment of existence by the fellow - 

 beings over whom we have, or assume, the 

 lordship. 



The entirely modern feeling of responsi- 

 bility for the protection of the lower animals, 

 which has given rise to the noble Associ- 

 ations for the Prevention of Cruelty to 

 Animals, is to my mind one of the most 

 irrefragable proofs of a definitely higher 

 attainment of our modern civilisation, and 

 I have little respect for the Christianity or 

 humanity of any one who has no thought to 

 spare the lower creatures useless pain. But 

 the early experiences of my own life, gained 

 in a country and under circumstances in 

 which the killing of wild creatures was often 

 the necessary means of obtaining food, and 

 the recognition of the unquestionable utility 



