DESTRUCTION OF ANIMALS. 
407 
tected victims, and more especially by those 
nuisances called Gamekeepers , who absolutely 
seem bent on exterminating Creation by terming 
every thing “ vermin ,” which is not “ game .”— 
Surely it is time for the benevolent and thinking 
members of these institutions to extend a befriend¬ 
ing hand to those animals so continually experien¬ 
cing pain and death, and to reflect that even 
“•-the poor beetle which we tread upon, 
In corporal sufferance feels a pang as great 
As when a giant dies.” 
The Sea urchin through some faculty, (probably 
scent) is enabled to detect the bait set by fishermen 
in their crab-pots, and of w'hich by its constant 
capture in these traps, it seems to be remarkably 
fond. It appears to climb the wickerwork and 
arrive gradually at the summit, perceiving there the 
entrance, and so tenaciously does it adhere to the 
rods that the creature is not uncommonly dragged 
up towards the surface of the water on the crab-pots 
being examined. Fishermen affirm that they effect 
this hold by their mouths. By the contents of the 
stomach of a Lobster examined in the end of May 
it appeared that this animal feeds on the young of 
Echinus esculentus, w T rinkles, young crabs &c.; hard 
parts of these species remained in the cavity and con¬ 
stituted the ingesta as I conclude, the softer portions 
having been withdrawn. Judging by these facts 
does it not seem unwise in fishermen to destroy the 
sea urchin as they are accustomed to do ? This 
echinus contains spawn in April. 
The poor Slow-worm though so great an object of 
hatred and so habitually destroyed, so far from 
being a fit subject for extirmination, is not only 
innoccuous, but by its pursuit and consumption of 
earthworms is extensively useful. Gardeners also 
