154 ANIMAL LIFE AND SOCIAL GROWTH 



uncomfortable "kitchen" chairs sat the instruc- 

 tors who were supposed to be present but were 

 not to take part in the discussions unless asked 

 to do so. 



Such societies are called "open societies;" 

 that is they will receive new members but they 

 are obviously definitely organized. Similar or- 

 ganizations are common among animals; the 

 leader may be an old female, as in the case of wild 

 reindeer, or an old male as with the baboons. 

 Herds of giraffes may be led by either a male or a 

 female who accepts the post of danger, or directs 

 group activities, or both. 



In other animal groups leadership may be 

 expressed by the arrogation of certain rights and 

 privileges. This is very well illustrated in the 

 organization of a flock of domestic hens. Such 

 groups, again, are an open, not a closed society 

 but the newly admitted members must fight for 

 any privileged standing which is accorded them 

 in the community. The ranking of the hens is 

 indicated by their reactions when another mem- 

 ber pecks or threatens to peck them. A given 

 hen will submit to pecking by certain individ- 

 uals without showing resentment, and will in 

 turn treat others similarly without their making 

 protest. Hens with such power are said to possess 

 the "peck right" over those submitting to the 



