312 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



of the smaller animals are doubtless eaten or split into 

 fragments and dispersed, but the bones of the larger 

 animals cannot thus be disposed of; and yet they 

 are rarely, if ever, seen. Perhaps when still fresh they 

 are dragged away and concealed, or perhaps they 

 become hidden by the grass and the falling leaves. 



When first I made acquaintance with the forests 

 I was struck by the profusion of animal life, its 

 freedom, and its joyousness. Afterwards these feelings 

 were modified : I was the more impressed by the 

 cruelty, the selfishness, everywhere apparent, the 

 strong among the animals so merciless, the weak so 

 helpless. But after a still longer experience I returned 

 very much to my earlier sentiment. The forests are 

 not, indeed, for the animals an ideal world ; there is 

 death, terror, and much suffering and privation. But 

 then in the free life and otherwise there are com- 

 pensations. On the whole, as compared with the 

 animals that live subject to man, the lot of these 

 inhabitants of the wilds is one to be envied. 



