BIRDS' WESTS. 145 



by supplying them with imitation eggs, in 

 order that he might obtain a good stock for 

 market ; nor do I see that there is anything 

 blameable in making a collection of birds' eggs 

 for a museum of natural curiosities by similar 

 means. 



" If you say, again, that such deceptions 

 are likely to be injurious to the character of 

 young persons, I answer, that a very young 

 child can be taught the difference between 

 deceiving his parents, and deceiving brute ani- 

 mals. Perfect sincerity and truthfulness is 

 his bounden duty towards all his fellow-crea- 

 tures, but it is by his superior wisdom and 

 skill in deceiving mainly, not by superior 

 strength, that he has dominion over the inferior 

 animals. What is a mouse -trap, or a fishing- 

 net, but a deception ? Does not the groom 

 deceive the horse when he holds out to it a 

 sieve full of oats, and, while it is eating, flings 

 the halter over its head ? Does not the child 

 deceive when he entices a dog into a certain 

 L 



