PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGV. 



Before leaving this branch of the subject,, we may ad- 

 vert to a very remarkable perversion of this instinct, (if 

 we may venture to call it so,) in the case of several social 

 quadrupeds. If a deer is wounded by a shot, the herd 

 will refuse to admit it again into their number, but will 

 persecute to death the unfortunate individual. The same 

 instinct is said to prevail with wild cattle and elephants. 

 How different this treatment from that disinterested sup- 

 port of each other, which in all other cases prevails in the 

 flock ? 



As nearly connected with this active power which we are 

 now considering, we may enumerate the feelings expressed 

 by the terms gratitude and pity. In one case we feel 

 thankful for the kind offices of others, and express our 

 feelings by a disposition to make a similar return. In the 

 other, we sympathise with the afflicted, and endeavour to re- 

 move their distress. These feelings are necessary, to prompt 

 to those reciprocal acts of kindness and protection, which we 

 witness to be performed by all animals possessed of the con- 

 gregating instinct. They are displayed, in the first in- 

 stance, to the individuals of their own species ; and when 

 there is a transference of affection to an individual of ano- 

 ther kind, there is a corresponding change in the object of 

 their gratitude and pity. 



killed the male. " Ponto (for that was the dog's name) was most severe- 

 ly punished for the misdemeanour, and had the dead bird tied to his neck. 

 The solitary goose became extremely distressed for the loss of her partner 

 and only companion ; and probably having been attracted to the dog's ken- 

 nel by the sight of her dead mate, she seemed determined to persecute Pon- 

 to by her constant attendance and continual vociferations ; and after a little 

 time, a strict amnity and friendship subsisted between these incongruous 

 animals ; they fed out of the same trough, lived under the same roof, 

 and in the same straw-bed kept each other warm ; and when the dog was 

 taken to the field, the inharmonious lamentations of the goose for the ab- 

 sence of her friend, were incessant." 



