Social Natures, 199 



sire for society. Society is so essential to his high- 

 est development, that it has been called a condi^ 

 tion of his being, rather than a desire. But proba- 

 bly there is to man an enjoyment in society which 

 is ultimate. He is a social being, — society is desired 

 for its own sake. The same thing is true, also 

 among animals. Horses, cattle, sheep and dogs, 

 appear to seek each other's company, not only for 

 the sake of defence, but simply for the sake of com- 

 pany. It may be said that dogs seek each other's 

 company, by a remnant of the old, wolf instinct, 

 that led them to hunt in packs. But this theory 

 will not account for their play and gambols togeth- 

 er, after they become acquainted. Nor will it ac- 

 count for the social nature of such herb-eating ani- 

 mals and seed-eating birds, as never hunted in com- 

 pany and never attempt defence in concert. 



There is love of company, in one animal, as mani- 

 fested for another of the same kind, and also for 

 men, and for animals of different kinds, after the 

 emotion of fear is overcome. 



Shall we deny to animals an Esthetic nature? 

 Here, most of all, we need language to aid us. Let 

 us be sure of our facts, and accept them as a basis 

 for sound inference, instead of trying to explain 

 them away under the influence of some favorite 

 theory. 



To the sound of music, most of the higher ani- 

 mals seem attentive. They mark differences of 

 sound, that often escape the notice of many men. 

 The dog will distinguish the sound of his master's 



