CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 25 



boys, and a love of natural history might direct this 

 so that it would benefit man and beast alike : not 

 unfrequently it assumes the character of unconscious 

 cruelty, and the possession of might soon passes into 

 the belief that its exertion is right The thoughtless- 

 ness with which children often torture flies, worms, 

 &c., must undoubtedly be the means of partially 

 developing a nature that ultimately finds a pleasure 

 in inflicting pain, or in causing death. There is only 

 too much truth in the sarcastic remark that when an 

 Englishman is on a visit to the country and writes 

 home to say he is enjoying himself, you may be sure 

 he is killing something ! Anything which can neu- 

 tralise this tendency to cruelty, or develop a more 

 tender regard for the lower organised of our fellow 

 creatures, becomes a means of moral education. This, 

 we contend, might easily be brought about by keeping 

 an aquarium, and interesting children in the funny 

 ways of its inhabitants. 



Many people think a fresh-water aquarium "only 

 gives a lot of trouble, and is always getting out of 

 order ! " Of course, there is no denying that both 

 these conditions may easily be brought about ; but 

 cannot the same excuse be made for declining any- 

 thing else ? An aquarium properly constructed, and 

 peopled with proper inhabitants, gives very little 

 trouble indeed. A few minutes now and then are 

 quite sufficient to keep it in that active, healthy order 

 which gives so much pleasure to the possessor. A 



