144 THE FALCON. 



from his sight among the clouds. But they are soon 

 after seen coming down together, struggling despe- 

 rately with each other, the one to escape, the other 

 to grasp, and disable his prey. But this unequal com- 

 bat is generally soon finished, for the Falcon, by means 

 of his hooked bill, and terrible claws, tears the poor 

 defenceless lark in such a manner, as to disable, or 

 even kill it, before they reach the ground. This, 

 among the lovers of such cruelty, is called delightful 

 sport. 



The reason why animals were made so differently 

 from each other is unknown to us, and therefore we 

 have no right to find the least fault with the works of 

 creation. We however see that some are made weak, 

 and without the least means of defence, while others 

 are strong, and armed in a most powerful manner. 

 We see, also, that some are apparently designed for 

 the food of others, and there is no doubt, but in this, 

 the Creator consulted the sum total of happiness, to 

 be enjoyed by the whole brute creation. Among the 

 fowls of the air, as well as among the beasts of the 

 field, we see that one kind is designed to prey upon 

 another kind. The Falcon, from the very fact of his 

 having claws for seizing his prey, a hooked bill for 

 tearing its flesh, and an appetite for flesh and blood, 

 was evidently designed to live by the destruction of 

 other animals. In doing this, therefore, he makes use 

 of the only means in his power to satisfy his appetite, 

 and must either destroy life or perish himself. 



But the question arises, whether man, the lord of 

 created things on earth, has a just right to assist one 

 animal in the cruel destruction of another, merely for 



