A Woodland Tkagedy 93 



to the hahit of catcliin«f prey, hut I suspect my 

 evil friend of often nuirderinj^ for mere murder's 

 sake, as ^^enerally happens with predatory animals ; 

 they acquire a certain love for the chase as such,' 

 and even seem, as one may observe in cats, to 

 delight in cruelty for the sensuous pleasure of 

 inflicting pain on others. Your shrike has no 

 mklinj4 of a conscience. He does \vron<» boldly, 

 with sublime indifference ; and believes himself t(i 

 the end to be a model father, a tender husband, 

 an ornament to society, and a useful citizen. 



