hout the novel, the Judge comes to the same conclusion about many other situations in the town. Later on in the novel, Judge Temple participates in a horrific scene of thousands of dead and dying pigeons lying on the ground after having been slaughtered at the hands of himself, Richard Jones and others: "I see nothing but eyes in every direction, as the innocent sufferers turn their heads in terror to examine my movements. Full one half of those that have fallen are yet alive: and I think it is time to end the sport, if sport be"(251). Having just participated in the slaughter of the pigeons, the Judge feels the weight of guilt fall upon his back. He sees the eyes of the pigeons he has just slain staring at him, and the eyes of those that are still dying, flapping their wings for mercy. He realizes what he and the others have done. The pigeons had no chance at all. The technology of guns that the men possess have given them the upper hand and have allowed them to kill hundreds of these pigeons, far more than can be consumed. If this type of hunting continues, soon there will be no pigeons left. Clearly, the Judge cares about the fate of nature, just as he cares about the fate of mankind.
             In the same way, Natty Bumppo expresses the same remorse towards nature. After witnessing the horrible spectacle of the pigeon slaughter, Natty is quick to reprimand the hunters for their wasteful ways:
             It's better for you, maybe... and all them as don't know how to put a ball down a rifle barrel, or how to bring it up ag'n with a true aim; but it's wicket to be shooting into flocks, is this wasty manner; and none do it, who know how to knock over a single bird. If a body has a craving for pigeon's flesh, why! it's made the same as all the other creaters for man's eating, but not to kill twenty and eat one. (248)
             Natty's reaction to the situation is almost identical to that of the Judge. In the same way that the Judge proclaims the killing...