himself and his children of those evil passions which are defined as
'the works of the flesh,' and rise to the supremest heights of
justice, benevolence, and purity? We, who have been brought up in
an older, and as we were taught to think, a more rational creed, may
not be able yet to allow our imaginations so daringly hopeful a
range: but the world travels fast, and seems travelling on into
some such theory just now; leaving behind, as antiquated bigots,
those who dare still to believe in the eternal and immutable essence
of Goodness, and in the divine origin of man, created in the
likeness of God, that he might be perfect even as his Father in
heaven is perfect.

But to return to the animals. The cage next to the monkeys holds a
more pleasant beast; a Toucan out of the primeval forest, as
gorgeous in colour as he is ridiculous in shape. His general
plumage is black, set off by a snow-white gorget fringed with
crimson; crimson and green tail coverts, and a crimson and green
beak, with blue cere about his face and throat. His enormous and
weak bill seems made for the purpose of swallowing bananas whole;
how he feeds himself with it in the forest it is difficult to guess:
and when he hops up and down on his great clattering feet--two toes
turned forward, and two back--twisting head and beak right and left
(for he cannot see well straight before him) to see whence the
bananas are coming; or when again, after gorging a couple, he sits
gulping and winking, digesting them in serene satisfaction, he is as
good a specimen as can be seen of the ludicrous--dare I say the
intentionally ludicrous?--element in nature.

Next to him is a Kinkajou; {91a} a beautiful little furry bear--or
racoon--who has found it necessary for his welfare in this world of