Off] AND SYMBOLS. 249 



unseen in the branches of some neighbouring forest, and view 

 the crocodile's operations with the pleasing expectation of suc- 

 ceeding plunder. They patiently wait till the crocodile has laid 

 the whole number of her eggs, till she has covered them care- 

 fully under the sand, and until she is retired from them to a 

 convenient distance. Then, all together, encouraging each other 

 with cries, they pour down upon the nest, hook up the sand in 

 a moment, lay bare the eggs, and devour the whole brood with- 

 out remorse, and thus, whilst gratifying themselves, spare the 

 district from the infliction of whole tribes of crocodiles. Nasty 

 though the vulture is in its aspect and habits, we here see it 

 performing most valuable services to the country. Many cen- 

 turies ago, when his land was overrun by some sort of injurious 

 birds, the King of Meath issued the order: "Nidus eorum 

 ubique destruendus." No policy could be better. Of evil 

 things everywhere, the eggs should be destroyed. Sometimes it 

 is necessary to employ objectionable beings to do the business. 

 We must, therefore, tolerate such, for the sake of the work which 

 they accomplish. It is preferable to endure even an upstart 

 magistrate and a vulture-like policeman than it is to have nests 

 of crime left to incubate in the midst of our population. A. 



Offensiveness the Aliment of Some. 



There are men whose livelihood is obtained by performing 

 acts which, even were they necessary, are simply offensive to 

 think of. Their subsistence is derived often from sources which 

 are morally offensive. The cheating lawyer, the swindling 

 accountant, the dishonest beggar, are of this tribe. Their food 

 is obtained by means, and is made up of things which clean 

 creatures could not touch ; and they do not scruple to rob even 

 those who are of their own horrible nature. They are in one 

 respect worse than the caracara of South America, for in grati- 

 fying its great appetite for snakes it does not injure mankind ; 

 but they resemble it in the versatility of their depraved tastes, 

 for it does not confine itself to this diet, but feeds indifferently 

 upon carrion, insects, and mollusca, and also, like many vultures, 

 attacks quite new-born lambs. According to some writers, the 

 caracaras, like mean men, are not above taking their prey at 



