204 INSTINCTIVE FEAR IN ANIMALS. 



The following fact, also, will serve to prove that 

 fear will produce strange fellowships amongst ani- 

 mals. A friend of mine had a fierce dog, chained 

 to a kennel in his poultry-yard. In the yard there 

 were a number of ducks, who always kept out of 

 the reach of the dog, probably from his having 

 shewn a disposition to kill them. One moonlight 

 night a great commotion was heard in the yard, 

 and the servant-man, on opening his window which 

 looked into it, saw a fox endeavouring to get at 

 the ducks, which had taken refuge in the dog's 

 kennel. The dog protected them with the great- 

 est eagerness, running backwards and forwards as 

 far as his chain would let him, and continued to 

 do so till the fox was driven away. 



Numerous instances might be brought forward 

 of birds and quadrupeds in their wild state, coming 

 to man for protection, when their life has been in 

 danger. I remember, a few years ago, going to 

 see some hawking, on a common near Southamp- 

 ton. There was a large assemblage, and many 

 carriages. A white pigeon was let loose, followed 

 by a hawk. After making several circles, the 

 pigeon, finding it could not escape from the hawk, 

 flew into one of the carriages, and took shelter on 

 the bosom of a young lady. It was claimed by 

 the owner of the hawk, and again turned loose, 

 when it came again into the same carriage, and 

 sought protection in the same place. It was 



