INSTINCTIVE FEAR IN ANIMALS. 201 



It is in the parental character that birds evince their strongest 

 feelings. It is in this capacity that every nerve is exerted, every 

 power employed, every sacrifice cheerfully made. 



Mr. SWAINSON. 



THE instinctive feelings of alarm which have been 

 implanted in some animals, and which must tend 

 greatly to their preservation, is worthy of notice. 

 Thus if a dog run across a meadow in which 

 cattle are feeding, we see them leave off grazing, and 

 fix their whole attention on the dog. This no doubt 

 arises from that dread of beasts of prey, which 

 cattle partake of in their state of wildness, and 

 which domestication has only partially removed. 

 When a cat runs along the roof of a house, we 

 hear the notes of alarm from swallows, as well as 

 a sort of war-cry, which soon collects a great 

 number of these birds. They may then be seen 

 making a swoop at their enemy, and all but strik- 

 ing it, as they dart past in rapid succession. 

 Young kittens shew an instinctive fear of a dog 

 as soon as they can see ; and I have watched the 

 little fry of fish get into shallow water for security 

 at the approach of a pike, or when I have done 

 anything to excite their fears. Newly-hatched 

 pheasants and partridges will crouch in the grass 

 on hearing a note of alarm from the parent birds ; 

 K 2 



