CHAPTER II. 

 Sense and Sentiment 



IN our relations with animals of all kinds we 

 are very prone to go to extremes, and to allow 

 sentiment to usurp to an unwarrantable and harm- 

 ful extent the place of common sense. While 

 excellent in its principle, humanising in its applica- 

 tion, and ennobling in its general results, sentiment, 

 in its relation to the animals which we foster, love, 

 protect, and use. although in moderation desirable, 

 is, in excess, most unwholesome and dangerous. 

 Considered in the abstract, we can harbour for this 

 emotion nothing but praise, although frequently, in 

 the individual case, it proceeds to lengths which are 

 to be deprecated. 



It may seem extraordinary to assert that excess 



of sentiment is responsible not only for much animal 



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