274 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1949 
Among animals that live in colonies or in herds, conflicts are gen- 
erally rare except among males that are fighting to determine who 
shall be master of the herd, as in the case of bison. However, on one 
occasion I witnessed a definite fight in a prairie dog (Cynomys) colony. 
In this case the aggressor was outside of the burrow and trying to 
keep another one in the burrow and, at the same time, to fill the 
burrow with dirt to bury him. Several others were within a few 
feet watching the proceedings but taking no part in it although it 
was obvious that they sympathized with the “‘underdog.’”’ Whenever 
the one that was in the burrow would attempt to come out, the one 
that was outside would try to bite and scratch him, and, when he had 
him forced back into the burrow, would scratch and push earth into 
the entrance. Finally, after perhaps 20 minutes, he lost interest and 
left. The bystanders almost immediately went to the burrow, greeted 
and apparently sympathized with the one that had been attacked, 
and in a few minutes the normal life of the colony had been resumed. 
This method of fighting by trying to imprison the victim is also used 
by prairie dogs in closing the entrance to the burrow which a snake 
has entered. 
ADAPTABILITY 
The readiness with which animals accept approaches or friendliness 
of man varies greatly. Some seem to be so thoroughly imbued with 
caution and suspicion of man’s intentions that they can be tamed 
only with the greatest of effort. Others respond almost immediately 
to handling and friendly treatment. Examples of the latter are the 
gray foxes of the United States (Urocyon) which tame very readily 
and in marked contrast to the general wariness and slow taming of 
the red foxes (Vulpes). The beaver (Castor) is another animal that 
tames easily, sometimes merely a few hours of kind treatment being 
sufficient to win its confidence. Young hair seals (Phoca) also tame 
almost immediately when captured. Usually they seem to have no 
fear when picked up, looking to their captors as friends and becoming 
affectionate pets, sometimes swimming after a boat that is leaving 
them behind after its occupants have picked them up and petted 
them briefly. 
Penguins are fearless and very curious as to visitors on land or on 
the ice or snow where they normally have few or no enemies, but in 
the water they are cautious as there they are accustomed to watching 
for enemies such as killer whales (Orca), sea leopards (Hydrurga), and 
large fish. 
Another phase of the adaptability of animals is the degree to which 
wild animals can survive where man has established himself. Most 
of them appear to have no fear of man’s presence and his activities 
so long as they are not actually molested and their haunts and food 
