A CURIOUS TRAIT IN ANIMAL 

 CHARACTER 



INTENSE dislike of all strange objects that live 

 and move is a characteristic common to all 

 species of animals which are sufficiently organized 

 to have likes and dislikes. In man the character- 

 istic is seen in the hatred of foreigners which prevails 

 among savage and partially civilized races. When the 

 heathen Chinee tries to keep the " foreign devil " out of 

 his country, he is merely giving expression to a feeling 

 which he has inherited from his animal ancestors — the 

 hatred of strange species. 



The savage, when he sets upon and slays the white 

 man who ventures into his domain, is but giving rather 

 more forcible expression to the same feeling. The 

 London street-boys, when they follow and shout out 

 after any person displaying some peculiarity of dress, 

 are doing much what gregarious animals do when a 

 strange species suddenly appears in their midst. 



A mammal or a bird regards every other species 

 with which it is acquainted either with intensely hostile 

 feelings or with supreme indifference. When it is sud- 

 denly confronted with a strange new species it is, for 

 the moment, nonplussed. It, however, gives itself the 

 benefit of the doubt, sets down the new creature as 



195 



