. The bird . or fold of thegown where he well knows he must infallibly be taken. All this is not mistrust. The art of domestication will make no progress if it occupiesitself only with the services which tamed animals may renderto man. It ought to proceed in the main from the consideration of theservice which man may render the animals; Of his duty to initiate all the tenants of this world into a gentler,more peaceable, and superior society. In the barbarism in which we are still plunged, we know of onlytwo conditions for the animal, absolute liberty or absolute slavery ; 304 CONCLUSION. but t
. The bird . or fold of thegown where he well knows he must infallibly be taken. All this is not mistrust. The art of domestication will make no progress if it occupiesitself only with the services which tamed animals may renderto man. It ought to proceed in the main from the consideration of theservice which man may render the animals; Of his duty to initiate all the tenants of this world into a gentler,more peaceable, and superior society. In the barbarism in which we are still plunged, we know of onlytwo conditions for the animal, absolute liberty or absolute slavery ; 304 CONCLUSION. but there are many forms of demi-servitude which the animals them-selves would willingly accept. The small Chili falcon (cernicula), for example, loves to dwellwith his master. He goes alone on his hunting expeditions, andfaithfully returns every evening with what he has captured, to eat iten famille. He feels the want of being praised by the father, flatteredby the dame, and, above all, caressed by the ~;fi^r Man, formerly protected by the animals, while he was indiiferentlyarmed, has gradually risen into a position to become their protectoi,especially since he has had powder, and enjoyed the possibility ofshooting; down from a distance the most formidable creatures. He hasrendered birds the essential service of infinitely diminishing the numberof the robbers of the air. He may render them another, and not a less important one—thatof sheltering at night the innocent species. Night! sleep ! completeabandonment to the most frightful chances! Oh! harshness ofNature! But she is justified, inasmuch as she has planted herebelow the far-seeing and industrious being who shall more and morebecome for all others a second providence. I know a house on the Indre, says Toussenel, where thegreenhouses, open at even, receive every honest bird which seeks anasylum against the dangers of the night, where he who has delayedtill late knocks with his bill in confidence. Content to be immu
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1860, bookidbird00mi, booksubjectbirds
