CONGREGATING. 181 



LETTER XXIV. To THE HON. DAINES BARRINGTON. 

 DEAR SIR, Selborne, Aug. 15, 1775. 



THERE is a wonderful spirit of sociality in the brute creation, 

 independent of sexual attachment : the congregating of grega- 

 rious birds in the winter is a remarkable instance. 



Many horses, though quiet with company, will not stay one 

 minute in a field by themselves : the strongest fences cannot 

 restrain them. My neighbour's horse will not only not stay by 

 himself abroad, but he will not bear to be left alone in a strange 

 stable without discovering the utmost impatience, and endea- 

 vouring to break the rack and rnanger with his fore feet. He 

 has been known to leap out at a stable-window, through which 

 dung was thrown, after company ; and yet in other respects is 

 remarkably quiet. Oxen and cows will not fatten by them- 

 selves : but will neglect the finest pasture that is not recom- 

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

 which constantly flock together. 



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 low- 

 ings 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, where 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 com- 

 placency, rubbing herself gently against his legs : while the horse 

 would look down with satisfaction, and move with the greatest 



