200 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



pleases the recipient of the news. Nothing but the 

 closest study will lay open the road to that curious 

 germ of attachment or affection, dormant, perhaps, 

 but ever more or less present in the heart of every 

 creature towards what is called a superior being; 

 and nothing but the most minute knowledge of 

 instinct, combined with care and gentleness, will 

 bring to light the depths of the love and the last- 

 ing attachment which some of the, to look at, 

 ^^ meanest of creatures" are capable of entertaining. 

 As soon as their hitherto dreaded tyrant, man, 

 gains their confidence, and teaches them that he is 

 not the terrible monster they expected, the Ydcpid 

 change from fear to faith is most remarkable, and, 

 to many minds, utterly incomprehensible. 



My study of nature began when I was about six years 

 old, and when I had begun to outgrow that strange 

 desire inherent in the breasts of all male children 

 to be cruel to everything less than themselves. 

 Mice and birds were, at that early age, my peculiar 

 favourites. The first bird I ever had was a green- 

 finch, and many, many times has the renowned 

 Dr. Jenner, one of whose favourite studies was 

 natural history, seen me take that little bird in my 

 hand and set it down on the grass plat in the outer 



