1 74 The Naturalist in La Plata. 



interesting subject ; and although it is not pro- 

 bable that anything very fresh remains to be said 

 about it, I am tempted to add here the results of 

 my own experience. 



When travelling by night, I have frequently 

 been struck with the behaviour of my horse at the 

 sight of natural fire, or appearance of fire, always 

 so different from that caused by the sight of fire 

 artificially created. The steady gleam from the 

 open window or door of a distant house, or even 

 the unsteady wind-tossed flame of some lonely 

 camp-fire, has only served to rouse a fresh spirit in 

 him and the desire to reach it ; whereas those in- 

 frequent displays of fire which nature exhibits, such 

 as lightning, or the ignis fatuus, or even a cloud of 

 fireflies, has always produced a disquieting effect. 

 Experience has evidently taught the domestic horse 

 to distinguish a light kindled by man from all 

 others ; and, knowing its character, he is just as 

 well able as his rider to go towards it without ex- 

 periencing that confusion of mind caused by a glare 

 in the darkness, the origin and nature of which is 

 a mystery. The artificially-lighted fire is to the 

 horse only the possible goal of the journey, and is 

 associated with the thought of rest and food. Wild 

 animals, as a rule, at any rate in thinly-settled 

 districts, do not know the meaning of any fire ; it 

 only excites curiosity and fear in them ; and they 

 are most disturbed at the sight of fires made by 

 man, which are brighter and steadier than most 

 natural fires. We can understand this sensation 

 in animals, since we ourselves experience a similar 

 one (although in a less degree and not associated 



