2 $6 The Natural History of Selborne 



recommended by society. It would be needless to instance in sheep, 

 which constantly flock together. 1 



But this propensity seems not to be confined to animals of the 

 same species ; for we know a doe, still alive, that was brought up 

 from a little fawn with a dairy of cows ; with them it goes a-field, 

 and with them it returns to the yard. The dogs of the house take 

 no notice of this deer, being used to her ; but, if strange dogs come 

 by, a chase ensues; while the master smiles to see his favourite 

 securely leading her pursuers over hedge, or gate, or stile, till she 

 returns to the cows, who, with fierce lowings and menacing horns, 

 drive the assailants quite out of the pasture. 



Even great disparity of kind and size does not always prevent 

 social advances and mutual fellowship. For a very intelligent and 

 observant person has assured me that, in the former part of his 

 life, keeping but one horse, he happened also on a time to have but 

 one solitary hen. These two incongruous animals spent much of 

 their time together in a lonely orchard, were they saw no creature 

 but each other. By degrees an apparent regard began to take 

 place between these two sequestered individuals. The fowl would 

 approach the quadruped with notes of complacency, rubbing herself 

 gently agair~t his legs: while the horse would look down with 

 satisfaction, and move with the greatest caution and circumspection, 

 lest he should trample on his diminutive companion. Thus, by 

 mutual good offices, each seemed to console the vacant hours of the 

 other : so that Milton, when he puts the following sentiment into 

 the mouth of Adam, seems to be somewhat mistaken : 



" Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl, 

 So well converse, nor with the ox the ape." 



I am, &c. 



1 All these animals are clearly the descendants of wild gregarious ancestors, 

 in whom the need for sympathy and society has become organic. Social animals 

 pine in solitude : solitary animals, on the contrary, dislike house-mates. ED. 



