The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-31

upon as somewhat absurd. Il is the Ia
ture of the boa constructor and other rep
tiles to capture. kill and devour small
birds and animals. When the reptile is
taken from its wilds and placed in cage,
its nature is not thereby altered, and. while
the boa may in time be taught to content it
self with ham sandwiches and angel cake,
it now insists upon having live fowls and
small animals as 4 dict. II is not believed
that the snake is extraordinarily cruel in
its method OF killing its prey. There is
nothing to indicate that the boa takes Il
special delight in torturinG a fowl before
it renders life extinct and begins TO devour
it. Its sole object is to obtain nourishment
in the way it has been taught by instinct.
1t is likewise doubtful IL the chickens
selected for the Chicago reptile are sub
jected 10 more terror hy the snake than
they would be if they we're wildly pursued
by farmer until caught strung up by the
feet. and aftcrward permitted TO slowly
bleed TO death. as they frequently are in
order to make them more presentabe for
the market 1t is also likely that they SUI
fer quite as much mental agony, il they
are capable Of it, in being beheaded with
a Ratchet or having their necks wrung as
they do in being crushed by the serpent.
II the Chicago Humane Society veto is 10
be followed to an extreme. the killing OF
all animalB for food purposes must be con-
demned and prohibited. This would doubt
less crafty the vegetarian. who cares not
for beef pork. mutton. or fowls. but it is
not likely TO please the people in general.
There may be more cruelty in the
slaughter CT birds by the boa constructor
than in pig-sticling and the killing of
other animals whose flesh is commonly
used for food by the average farmer, but
it is not apparent.
Those who have charge OF the Chicago
serpent, which is one OF the wonders Of
the Western collection. make some very
good points in their reply TO the Humane
Society officers protest. They declare that.
il an Injunction is to be filed forbidding
the snake 10 kill chickens. it is only nat
ural to take another step in the direction
OF prohibiting the ella monster from feed
ing on live ants and the chameIeons from
catching flies and other insects, which
must be regarded as just as cruel and re-
voting. II the prohibition is followed 10
the limit. many Of the specimens in the
zoo will have 20 siarye
The Humane Society people seem to for
get that in state Of nature almost all
animals seek live prey. and after killing il
devuur it. They do not take cognizance OF
the fact that nearly il not quite. all the
birds with which We are familiar subsist
upon insects. devourng them alive. and
that this is very fortunate for he farmers
wheat fields and orchards, as well as for
the cities where a pride is taken in fine
shade trees. 1t is doubtless an excess OF
enthusiasm and an overdeveloped sensi-
tiveness that has provoked this humane
crusade in Illinois. 1t might be properly
suggested that If the Illinois Humane So
ciety will make a strenuous campaign for
the relief of diseased horses that are still
hauling heavy carts or standing patiently
harnessed to cabs during the bitter winter
weather, incidentally gathering ia aad de-
stroying all afflicted cats and dogs it
viii have plenty of work TO do aud will be
genuine mission Of mercy