Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-11-05
ENMIrY BETWEEN ANIMALS.
THEIR PECULIARITIE

THEIR PECULIARITIEs. czs
There is continual enmity among animals
they are continually attacking and pursuing
each other; every element is a field of battle
for them; the eagle is the terror of the inhab-
tants of the air; the tiger lives upon the earth
by carnage; the pike in the waters; and the
mole under the ground. 1t is the want of
food which induces these, and many 9TH
er species of animals to destroy one anoth-
er. Bnt there are aome creatures whose ha-
tired Of each other does not proceed from the
same source. Those animals which entwine
themselves around the elephants trunk and
press it till they have suffocated him. do not
act so with the design of procuring food.
w hen the ermine leaps upon, and laws hold of
the ear of the bear and elk. and bites them
with his sharp teeth, We cannot affirm that this
is done to satisfy the call of hunger There
Is scarcely any creature, however small, which
does not serve for food to some other animal
know that many people think that this ar
rangement is cruel and unne ecessary, but |
can with confidence assert that even this an
tipathy aud enmity among animals is a proof
that every thing is wisely ordered If we con-
slider auimas, in the whole. we shall find that
II is highly useful that some should subsist
upon others for while without this arrange
ment of Nature, many species could not ex-
list so, also, these numerous species, instead
OF being prejudicial are extremely useful
Insects and many reptiles feed on carrion:
others establish themselves in the bodies of
certain animals, and live upon their flesh and
blood; and these insects themselves serve as
food for other creatures. Carniveroas ami
mails and birds of prey Kill and f ,ed upon 9TH
er animals. Some species multiply so abun-
dainty, that they would become burdensome if
their numbers were not diminished. Ii there
were no spafrows to destroy insects what would
become of the flowers and fruits! Without
the chnenmon, which seeks out and DESTROYS
the crocodile's eggs, this terrible animal would
increase TO an alarming degree. A great por.
ton of the earth would be a desert and many
creatures would not exist, If there were no
carniverous animals. 1t viii perhaps be urg-
ed that they might live upon vegetables, but
If this were the case, our fields would scarce
ly afford subsistence for sparrows and swal.
lows; and the structure of carnverous animals
must have been quite different from what it
now is; and if fish did not live upon the in
haoitants OF the water, how would they be able
TO exist Besides. if the wars among animals
were to cease. they would 'ose much of their
yivacity and industry, the creation would be
less animated, and man himself would lose
much of his activity. We may also add that
we should be deprived of many strik ing proofs
of Gods wisdom, if universal peace was to
prevail among animals for the address. sa
gacity and wonderful instinct which they use
in laying snares for aud surprising their prey.
very evidently manifest the wisdom of the |
Creator. So far then is the enmity which ex- |
lists among animals from darkeniDg the wis |
dom and goodness of God, that they receive |
additional brilliancy from what superficial OBJ |
servers think an imperfection. 1t forms part |
of the plan of the great system of Nature, that |
one animal should persecute and feed upon |
another. We might indeed complain of this |
arrangement, ii it occasioued the entire de- |
struction of any one species, but this never |
happens, and the continual wars among ami |
mails preserve a proper balance between them /
' 1ec IL.
links in the chain of beings; and on this ac- |
count their number is very small, compared
with that OF useful animals. We may also re- |
mark that the strongest and fercest animals |
have commonly the least sense and cunning
They either mutually destroy each other or |
their young ones serve as food for other
beasts. Hence also Nature has granted to the |
weakest species so much industry and means
OF defence. They possess instinct, acuteness
OF sense, quickness, skill and sagacty suffi-
cient to counterbalance the strength of their
enemies. Can any one, then, behold this
without acknowledging the infinite wisdom
OF the Creator. and confessng That this state
of warfare, which at first seems so strange is
in fact, real good? We should be still more
OF 1t, II we were better acquainted
with the whole system OF things, and the re-
iations and connections which different crea-
lures have with each other, but this is de-
gree of knowledge reserved for future state
in infinite splendor. We may, however, in
some measure, even in this world comprehend
why these hostiities among animals are ne
cessary but we can by no.means conceive
why men, whose nature is SO much more no.
Bile, should be continually fomenting wars and
divisions so destructive to their race. To othe
disgrace of humanity, and the eternal disgrace
OF the Christian religion, men pursue wars.
and destroy each other with more savage bar
barity than the widest beasts that range the
forests; than which, nothing is more opposite
70 the great ends for which they were created
Surely man was designed to render himself
lseful to his fellow-creatures, to contribute all
IN his power to their comfort and happiness
o be the defender of the helpless, the bere-
actor of the poor, and the friend of the affiic-
ed and unfortunate. Let us not count eract
hese merciful designs of our blessed Lord,
out endeavor to live in that peace and harmo-
~ which becomes the children of God, and
oiowers OF an hnmble and crucified Savior
eaving animals, which are destitute of reason,
o quarrel, fight, persecute and destroy one
mother; while we live in charity with all men,
ioing good unto all men, doing unto others as
We would that they should do unto us.
They who disbelieve in virtue, because man
las never been found perfect, might as reason
IDLY deny the sun, because it is not always noon
10 tezfF.- 5l-----< s- |
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