INTRODUCTION. XXV 



We must not forget that the occupation of a grave- 

 digger is equally general in nature, and that it is never 

 without some profit to himself or his progeny that this 

 gloomy workman inters the bodies of the dead. Certain 

 animals have an occupation analogous to that of the 

 - shoeblack or the scourer, and they freshen up with care, 

 and even with a kind of coquettish pleasure, the toilet 

 of their neighbours. 



And how must we designate the birds known by the 

 name of stercorariae, which take advantage of the 

 cowardice of sea-gulls in order to live in idleness ? It is 

 useless for the gulls to trust to the strength of their wings, 

 the stercorarise in the end compel them to disgorge their 

 food in order that they may partake of the spoils of their 

 fishery. When followed up too closely, these timid birds 

 throw up the contents of their crop, to render themselves 

 lighter, like the smuggler who finds no means of safety 

 except in abandoning his load. 



We must not, however, be too hard upon all this class, 

 since very often, as in the case of the gnat, it is only 

 one of the sexes which seeks a victim. 



All animals usually live for the passing day; and 

 yet there are some which practise economy, which are 

 not ignorant of the advantages of the savings bank, and, 

 like the raven and the magpie, think of the morrow, to 

 lay up in store the superfluity of the day's provision. 



As we have before said, this little world is not always 

 easy to be known, and in its societies, to which each 

 brings his capital, Borne in activity, others in violence or 

 in stratagem, we find more than one Robert Macaire who 

 contributes nothing, and takes advantage of all. Every 

 species of animal may have its parasites and its mess- 



