THE RELIGION OF NATURE 



exhausted ever turn black through fear. On the 

 contrary, I have often been astonished at the 

 inconsequent way in which they will begin to nib- 

 ble herbage even while listening to hear if the 

 danger is past. This is explained by the fact that 

 very narrow escapes from danger constitute a 

 large part of the ordinary lives of all animals 

 which are preyed upon by others. 



In any wild country you can seldom walk a mile 

 without seeing more than one bird of prey. It 

 may take you twenty minutes to walk that mile. 

 Therefore in the twelve hours of daylight all the 

 eatable creatures in every mile of country must be 

 scared more probably many more than thirty- 

 six times by birds of prey. In addition, there are 

 reptiles and beasts of prey always on the prowl, 

 by day and night. Which of us, in such circum- 

 stances, would think life worth living? 



Luckily for the other creatures they do not 

 think about it; and to them a danger past is an 

 incident done with, except in so far as they grow 

 cunning by experience. 



The fourth question, why a dog licks itself, if 

 stung or hurt, is answered simply by the fact that 

 it has an inherited instinct to do so, based upon the 

 curative effect of its cleansing saliva, although it 

 knows nothing of this. Its nerves inform its brain 

 of the injury and its brain automatically directs 



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