174 
BIRDS IN A VILLAGE. 
strengthen my memory. I know that if I set an 
overturned cockchafer on his legs three sins shall 
be remitted to me ; that if I am kindly tolerant of 
the spider that drops accidentally on me, my purse 
shall be mysteriously replenished. At the same 
time, one has to remember that such sentiments, 
as a rule, are not understood by those who have 
charge over groves and gardens, whose minds are 
ignorant and earthy, or, as they would say, practical. 
Of the balance of nature they know and care 
naught, nor can they regard life as sacred ; it is 
enough to know that it is or may be injurious to 
their interests for them to sweep it away. The 
small thing that has been flying about and uttering 
musical sounds since April may, when July comes, 
devour a certain number of cherries. Nor is even 
this plea needed. If it is innocent for the lower 
creatures to prey upon one another, it cannot be 
less innocent for man to destroy them indiscrimi- 
nately, if it gives him any pleasure to do so. It is 
idle to go into such subtle questions with those 
who have the power to destroy ; if their hands are 
to be restrained it is not by appealing to feelings 
which they do not possess, but to their lower 
natures — to their greed and their cunning. For 
the rest of us, for all who have conquered or out- 
grown the killing instinct, an impartiality that pets 
nothing and persecutes nothing is doubtless man's 
