300 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



their happiness, and how lovely the expression of it ! With 

 how many human ones, either in the savage or civilized state, 

 does not this Swan family compare favourably, in all these 

 respects ; yet to bring death and non-fulfilment into the one is a 

 crime, and into the other, a pastime. This makes our humanity 

 but a matter of power or self-tenderness — the application of the 

 golden rule, for there to be anything of sterling gold in it, should 

 extend to all life, where possible, but so far is this from being 

 the case that where men themselves are as incapable of enforcing 

 their "rights" as are these Swans, they stand in very much the 

 same position, or, owing to causes quite simple to follow, in a 

 very much worse one — witness the Putumayo and Congo. What, 

 then, is that which we designate a right, either amongst animals 

 or men ? Nature, all conscienceless, would seem to answer — 

 Might ; since not one can be pointed to which does not, at least, 

 owe its origin to this factor. Does it not stand thus, then — 

 that when we may, with impunity, and yet do not exercise a 

 power by which we gain against others, the restraining in- 

 fluence is a sort of shame and compunction at using such 

 power, which will sometimes withhold individuals, but not 

 masses of individuals ? But this feeling is only a bye-product, 

 born out of complexity, and not of noble parentage either. It 

 had no real, shaping influence in the evolution of species, or of 

 man out of beast — nothing to do with that struggle which, 

 though masked, is being still carried pitilessly on by the most 

 humane man and the most seeming-pitiful* woman. Of all 

 reflections that make towards pessimism, this, perhaps, is the 

 deepest grounded, that all that seems best in one's nature is the 

 outcome not of main forces, but of bye-product only. The first, 

 it can be said, have brought forth the second ; and, if closely 

 looked into, it may be answered, they will be found to smack 

 of their origin. 



After the scene which has given rise to these reflections, 

 first, one of the Swans — the male, I think — and, before long, 

 both of them, kept dipping for weeds, and I watched attentively 

 to see if they were feeding the cygnets. For a long time this 

 was difficult to make out, but, at last, I had the satisfaction of 



* " Shaniniing-pitiful " would perhaps be a better expression, having 

 regard to the feminine hat, &c. 



