104 BEASTS AND MEN 
sitting-room. He was, moreover. a beautiful creature, and as 
I was very loth to part with him, he remained over a year 
in my care. As I ascertained later, the animal had been 
brought up quite young at Vladivostock, and I have it on 
certain authority that he ran about free for more than a year, 
without ever causing any mischief. Every morning, when I 
went my rounds, I visited my favourite and caressed him. If 
I happened to pass his cage in haste without noticing him, 
he would attract. my attention with a mewing sound, to re- 
mind me that I had not spoken to him. . 
I fear that much of what I now write will be received by 
many with incredulity, for in the popular estimation carni-. 
vores conjure up a vision of all that is faithless, savage, and 
cruel. But it is certainly a mistake to call them cruel. It is, 
their nature in the wild state to hunt living prey, and they 
have to kill in order to live. We are too prone to forget 
how many millions of animals are hunted and slaughtered, 
both by land and sea, to provide food for human beings ; 
and it is as reasonable to accuse mankind of cruelty on this 
score, as it is to accuse carnivores. Carnivores love their 
young just as we do, and can also be affectionate and faithful. 
Of course one often comes across black sheep, but that is due 
either to their having been caught when adult, or to their 
being the victims of bad rearing. 
All carnivores without exception, when they are caught 
young and are properly treated, are capable of being brought 
up as domestic pets. Their so-called wild nature does not 
break out unless something happens to put the animals in a 
rage ; and this, after all, is just the same with domestic 
animals. As to what can be achieved in the way of taming 
wild animals, I have certainly had more experience than any 
other human being. Both intelligence and love of animals 
are essential to success in taming. Then it is quickly dis- 
covered that among animals, as among men, good and bad 
are mixed, and that, while the good will develop of itself, the 
bad can be suppressed. I shall shortly give some evidence, 
