106 CARNIVOnOUS RACES 



purpose of capturing and killing their prey ; and as contri- 

 vances exhibited in instruments formed expressly for destruc- 

 tion may, at first sight, seem inconsistent with the dispensa- 

 tions of a creation founded in benevolence, and tending to 

 produce the greatest amount of enjoyment to the greatest 

 number of individuals ; it may be proper to premise a few 

 words upon this subject, before we enter on the history of 

 that large portion of the animals of a former world, whose 

 office was to effect the destruction of life. 



The law of universal mortality being the established con- 

 dition, on which it has pleased the Creator to give being to 

 every creature upon earth, it is a dispensation of kindness 

 to make the end of life to each individual as easy as possi- 

 ble. The most easy death is, proverbially, that which is 

 the least expected ; and though, for moral reasons peculiar 

 to our own species, we deprecate the sudden termination of 

 our mortal life ; yet, in the case of every inferior animal, 

 such a termination of existence is obviously the most de- 

 sirable. The pains of sickness, and decrepitude of age, are 

 the usual precursors of death, resulting from gradual decay : 

 these, in the human race alone, arc susceptible of alleviation 

 from internal sources of hope and consolation ; and give ex- 

 ercise to some of the highest charities, and most tender sym- 

 pathies of humanity. But, throughout the whole creation of 

 inferior animals, no such sympathies exist ; there is no af- 

 fection or regard for the feeble and aged ; no alleviating 

 care to I'clieve the sick ; and the extension of life through 

 lingering stages of decay and of old age, would to each in- 

 dividual be a scene of protracted misery. Under such a 

 system, the natural world would present a mass of daily 

 suffering, bearing a large proportion to the total ambunt of 

 animal enjoyment. By the existing dispensations of sudden 

 destruction and rapid succession, the feebled and disabled 

 are speedily relieved from suffering, and the world is at all 

 times crowded with myriads of sentient and happy beings ; 

 and though to many individuals their allotted share of life be 



