244 
NATURE NOTES. 
The old-fashioned view that the animals, like ourselves, were 
creatures of God, and in this sense “ sisters, brothers,” is never 
put forward. Mr. Ernest Bell, in his various prefaces, never 
once mentions the Supreme Being ; he talks rather of “ the 
reaction after ages of superstition ” — evidently forgetting St. 
Francis— although he admits that there is “a danger of our 
running into the opposite extreme.” He tells us that “ the 
most common objects by which we are surrounded are filled 
with mysterious powers and attributes which the human intel- 
lect is wholly incapable of grasping or explaining;” and that 
“ a just appreciation and knowledge of the mysterious in 
nature, which we can neither analyze nor measure, is no less im- 
portant to the welfare of the individual and the community 
than a grasp of the purely material.” It may be that this 
teaching is more suited to our complex age than the simple 
words of the Great Teacher telling of the thought taken for the 
sparrows, and of the lesson to be drawn from the lilies — it may 
be, we say, yet we take leave to doubt it. To our minds the 
simpler lesson is the more effective ; and the example of St. 
Francis seems more likely to influence men than the abstract 
teaching of Mr. Ernest Bell. Nor, among the various stories 
brought together, admirable and full of interest as they are, do 
we find anything more charming than this legend of the saint of 
Crowland, written more than a thousand years ago : — 
It happened on a time that there came a venerable brother to Gulhlac, whose 
name was Wilfrith, who had of old been united with him in spiritual fellowship. 
Whilst they discussed in many discourses their spiritual life, there came suddenly 
two swallows flying in, and behold they raised up their song rejoicing ; and after 
that they sat fearlessly on the shoulders of the holy man Guthlac, and then lifted 
up their song ; and afterwards they sat on his bosom and on his arms and his 
knees. When Wilfrith had long wondering beheld the birds, he asked him 
wherefore the wild birds of the wide waste so submissively sat upon him. The 
holy man Guthlac answered him and said: “Hast thou never learnt, brother 
Wilfrith, in Holy Writ, that he who hath led his life after God’s will, the wild 
beasts and the wild birds have become the more intimate with him. And the 
man who would pass his life apart from worldly men, to him the angels approach 
nearer.” 
There were settled on the same island two ravens, so greedy that whatsoever 
they could seize they would carry away ; and notwithstanding he bore and endured 
all their greediness, that he might give men the example of his patience. And 
not only were the birds subject to him, but also the fishes and wild beasts of the 
wilderness all obeyed him, and he daily gave them food from his own hand, as 
suited their kind. 
Even among the prominent members of tlie Humanitarian 
Society are some who might well be more careful in their state- 
ments. Only lately, for example. Colonel Coulson gave to the 
world the announcement that Miss Marie Corelli and her friends 
were grouse-shooting in Scotland, appending to the statement 
certain reflections. But Miss Corelli, in a characteristic letter, 
entirely denied that there was any truth in the story. Colonel 
Coulson apologized, of course ; but surely it would have been 
better to have a.scertained beforehand whether there were any 
