130 CARNIVOROUS RACES 
the greatest number of individuals ; it may be 
proper to premise a few words upon this subject, 
before we enter on the history of that large 
portion of the animals of a former world, whose 
office was to effect the destruction of life. 
The law of universal mortality being the 
established condition, on which it has pleased 
the Creator to give being to every creature upon 
earth, it is a dispensation of kindness to make 
the end of life to each individual as easy as 
possible. The most easy death is, proverbially, 
that which is the least expected ; and though, for 
moral reasons peculiar to our own species, we 
deprecate the sudden termination of our mortal 
life ; yet, in the case of every inferior animal, 
such a termination of existence is obviously the 
most desirable. The pains of sickness, and de- 
crepitude of age, are the usual precursors of 
death, resulting from gradual decay : these, in 
the human race alone, are susceptible of allevia- 
tion from internal sources of hope and consola- 
tion ; and give exercise to some of the highest 
charities, and most tender sympathies of huma- 
nity. But, throughout the whole creation of 
inferior animals, no such sympathies exist ; there 
is no affection or regard for the feeble and aged ; 
no alleviating care to relieve the sick ; and the 
extension of life through lingering stages of 
decay and of old age, would to each individual 
be a scene of protracted misery. Under such a 
