88 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS. CHAP. III. 



although the tiger's thirst for hlood has heen generally 

 stated to be insatiable, itxsan scarcely he supposed that 

 it would destroy, without, in the first instance, being 

 urged on by hunger. Nevertheless, there certainly 

 appears an unaccountable vindictiveness in certain ra- 

 pacious animals, when surrounded by their weaker foes 

 or their favourite game. Wolves and wild dogs, on 

 getting among a flock of sheep, will wound or kill 

 many more than they could possibly devour : and the 

 great-footed hawk of America, on darting into a flock 

 of ducks, will strike down, right and left, more than a 

 dozen of their number ; and, ultimately, fly off with 

 perhaps only one or two. The weazels and ferrets 

 have the same propensities in regard to rabbits and 

 rats; and the Egyptian ichneumon is universally de- 

 scribed as a most destructive creature, carrying on a 

 war of extermination among the reptiles of its own 

 country. No such habits, however, with the above 

 exception, belong to the generality of carnivorous birds, 

 at least, so far as we yet know ; for, although the 

 shrike appears to kill more than it eats at one time, the 

 remainder of its game is stuck upon a thorn, or sharp- 

 pointed twig, only to be devoured at leisure. 



(106.) The next head under which we may class 

 the violent or injurious passions of animals, is that of 

 jealousy. This is always confined to the male sex; and 

 is an instinct implanted in them by Providence, by 

 which a permanent good is gained to the whole com- 

 munity, by the injury, or perhaps sacrifice, of a few. 

 It is well known that the males of nearly all quadru- 

 peds, during the season of courtship, however peace- 

 ably they may live together at other times, are then 

 actuated by the most violent and deadly feelings of jea- 

 lousy towards each other ; so much so, indeed, that des- 

 perate, and often fatal, combats take place between them, 

 for the possession of the females. It often happens, 

 particularly among the antelope family, that the young 

 males, in the first place, separate themselves, or are 

 driven away from the herd, as if by the common con- 



