204 THE REASON WHY I 



" First take his head, then tell the reason why ; 

 Stand not to find him guilty by your laws : 

 You easier shall with him your quarrel try, 

 Dead than alive, who hath the better cause." DANIM.. 



613. Why do animals hunt amicably in company t and 

 quarrel immediately the pursuit is over ? 



Because the temporary association is generally occasioned by 

 the pressing calls of hunger, and by an instinct which leads 

 individuals to unite their strength for accomplishing an act of 

 rapine or of bloodshed. While engaged in this pursuit, good 

 fellowship continues ; but when the booty is obtained, all 

 community is dissolved, and they either quarrel over their prey, 

 or at once disperse. 



614. Hyenas, wild dogs, wolves, jackals, and the hunting 1 leopards, are all 

 striking and familiar instances of such associations. So long as food can be supplied 

 by individual exertion, each appears to provide for itself; but when food becomes 

 ecarce, or a herd of peaceful antelopes are passing on their migration, they 

 instantaneously unite into bands, and commence a simultaneous attack upon 

 their prey. 



615. How do we find that the safety of the weakest animals 

 is provided for as effectually as that of the strong ? 



TLo power of defence given to animals is peculiarly adapted to 

 meet those exegencies to which every species is more especially 

 exposed. The powers of protection are of two kinds : 



The first are offensive : these consist in the exertion of force, by 

 which assaults are made by weapons or instruments possessed by 

 the animal itself, and requiring his active exertion in their use ; 

 and such powers may obviously be employed either in offensive 

 or defensive warfare. The horns and the teeth of quadrupeds, the 

 stings and jaws of insects, and the poisonous fangs of reptiles, 

 are of this description. 



The second class of defences are strictly passive ; they are as 

 effectual in most cases as the first class, but they require no 

 exertion of the animal to bring them into operation. We 

 accordingly find that these protections are given to the weakest 

 and most helpless animals. 



616. The power which the toad has of inflating his body to prevent ^e possibility 

 of his being swallowed by snakef } 



