Page:Henry Stephens Salt - A Plea for Vegetarianism and Other Essays.pdf/94



the 9th of May, 1884, the House of Lords discussed and rejected a bill which practically aimed at the direct abolition of pigeon shooting, though introduced under the circuitous title of the “Cruelty to Animals Act Amendment Bill.” The arguments of those who supported the measure were directed chiefly to show that there is something peculiarly base and demoralising in pigeon shooting, which distinguishes it from other sport ; while their antagonists contended that there is no real distinction between this and other kinds of sport, and that the proposed legislation is merely the thin end of the wedge which would ﬁnally destroy the immemorial resource and recreation of true-born Englishmen. “If it was cruel,” said the Earl of Redesdale, “to shoot at a pigeon with intent to kill it, so it was cruel to shoot at partridges and pheasants."

Now no humanitarian will be likely to desire the prolongation of pigeon-shooting merely because it is no worse than other shooting ; by