A WOODLAND TRAGEDY 93 



to the habit of catching prey. But I suspect my 

 evil friend of often murdering for mere murder's 

 sake, as generally happens with predatory animals ; 

 they acquire a certain love for the chase as such, 

 and even seem, as one may observe in cats, to 

 delight in cruelty for the sensuous pleasure of 

 inflicting pain on others. Your shrike has no 

 inkling of a conscience. He does wrong boldly, 

 with sublime indifference ; and believes himself to 

 the end to be a model father, a tender husband, 

 an ornament to society, and a useful citizen. 



