CHAP. III. GENERAL REMARKS ON ANIMAL PASSIONS. 87 



to the extremity of her body ; and this treasure she 

 carries ahout with her everywhere, appearing in the 

 greatest distress if in any way deprived of it. By way 

 of experiment, Bonnet delivered up this precious bur- 

 den to that cruel insect the ant lion ; when the dis- 

 tressed mother, far from deserting her charge, made the 

 most extraordinary efforts to recover it, persevering, 

 regardless of her own danger, and resolutely remaining 

 on the spot, in spite of every effort to force her to leave 

 it.* Crabs appear to be naturally quarrelsome animals; 

 and the combats carried on by the common species, 

 particularly, are obstinate and vindictive. Their large 

 and often deeply-toothed claws are most offensive wea- 

 pons, with which they can easily tear off the legs of 

 their own kind, as well as inflict severe injury on their 

 other enemies. 



(105.) On reviewing the preceding anecdotes, col- 

 lected from creditable authorities, it results, that all 

 animals gifted with locomotion are subject to modifi- 

 cations of the same passions as alternately sway the 

 human mind. The parental instinct of affection is, 

 perhaps, the strongest, or, at least, the most universal ; 

 because this is the most important for the future pre- 

 servation of the species, without which, supposing it 

 did not exist to the extent it actually does, the world 

 would, eventually, be depopulated of its animal inha- 

 bitants. The opposite feelings, of ferocity, anger, or 

 vindictiveness, arise, on the other hand, from different 

 causes, which it is not difficult to analyse. Such pre- 

 datory or carnivorous animals as the beasts and birds of 

 prey are naturally cruel; for that food which is alone 

 congenial to their nature, could never be obtained, were 

 their dispositions otherwise. With the majority, how- 

 ever, hunger is the inciting cause for bringing these 

 passions into action; just as injuries are with those of a 

 milder nature. It is said that the lion never attacks 

 its prey from sheer wantonness, without being pro- 

 pelled to destroy it from the cravings of appetite : and, 



* Int. to But vol.i. p. 363. 

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