l6 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



naturalist, but almost any other form of pastime, 

 we find that it is founded upon certain primitive 

 tastes or instincts which we possess in common 

 with the uncivilised races. Civilised man when 

 at play always reverts somewhat towards the 

 condition of the savage. 



The play instinct is one of the characteristics 

 of immaturity, and most of our efforts at recre- 

 ation involve attempts to revive or prolong the 

 youthful spirit. Now all young creatures, whether 

 of our own species or not, tend both in bodily 

 structure and in mental attributes to resemble 

 remote ancestors. 



Who can doubt that the passionate delight 

 in "killing something" displayed by so many 

 of the more vigorous specimens of our race is 

 traceable to the old destructive instincts which 

 all savages possess in common with their chosen 

 exemplars, the Carnivora ? 



Having traced the impulse both of the sports- 

 man and the field - naturalist to their pristine 

 basis, let us endeavour to picture one of our 

 prehistoric ancestors engaged in his everyday 

 pursuits ; and we shall, I think, get a hint from 

 him as to the way in which the Darwinian doc- 

 trine may greatly enhance the value of natural 



