THE RABBIT. 49 



lie always comes up to me, as if to report himself, and I always 

 pat him and pretend to know nothing about his intended escapade. 



It is through the neglect of this simple principle that so many 

 animals are made savage, or sulky, or stupid, by the clowns — 

 whether in fustian or broadcloth — who have the charge of them. 

 They lay down certain arbitrary rules of their own, neglect to 

 teach these rules to the poor animals, and then ill-treat them 

 because they break the laws which have never been taught to 

 them. Farm laborers are, as a body, continually committing 

 this error, and it is to their mingled ignorance and obstinacy that 

 the savage nature of so many animals is due. A horse, for ex- 

 ample, strays into some spot where he has no business, and is 

 immediately chased, and shouted at, and pelted with stones, and 

 struck with the first weapon that can be seized. Or he turns 

 his head to the right instead of the left, and straightway is 

 "chucked" by the bridle, and kicked, and anathematized with 

 that copious flow of foul language with which our unsophisti- 

 cated rural swains are so amply supplied. 



Now the horse does not in the least know why he is thus 

 maltreated. He is unconscious of error, and can only attribute 

 the pain which he suffers to the arbitrary and inscrutable will 

 of the being whom he hates, but is mysteriously forced to obey. 

 He knows not that he has broken any law, or disobeyed any 

 command, and, in consequence, will probably repeat the offense, 

 and so earn the character of an obstinate and disobedient beast. 

 If he be a horse of some spirit (and such an animal is always the 

 best servant when properly treated), he will resent the injustice 

 of which he is the victim, and bring hoofs or teeth to bear upon 

 his tormentor, thus earning the character of a savage as well 

 as an obstinate brute. So it happens, that a fine animal, wdiich 

 would have cheerfully labored with all his vast strength in the 

 service of man, is prevented from assuming his rightful place 

 as a humble friend and servant, and is converted into a trem- 

 bling slave or a dangerous foe. Those who trained him have 

 not identified themselves with him. 



So it is with the study of zoology; and the only method of 

 gaining a true insight into the motives of animals, and of identi- 

 fying ourselves with them, is to put ourselves, as far as possible, 

 in their condition, and to think how we should act under the 

 circumstances, were our instincts as powerful and our reason as 

 weak as theirs. 



D 



