90 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS. CHAP. IV. 



molest them ; and they, after attentively regarding him 

 for some time, generally wheeled round and galloped 

 off ; though, from their known disposition, there is little 

 doubt but he would have been torn in pieces, had he 

 lost his presence of mind, and attempted to fly-*- or, 

 it might have been added, attacked the bears. This 

 anecdote shows also that some animals, on ordinary 

 occasions, have a sort of respect for man, when he does 

 not confess his weakness. Notwithstanding all that 

 has been said of the savageness of the rhinoceros, it 

 does not appear that its rage and vindictive powers are 

 put forth otherwise than in self-defence ; so that it is 

 somewhat inconsistent to give such epithets to that 

 resolute courage which would be extolled in man under 

 similar circumstances. The anteaters and the sloths of 

 America are among the most timid of animals ; and 

 yet, when their life is at stake, the wounds which they 

 inflict with their claws, and their pertinacity in re- 

 taining their grasp, would lead many people to term 

 them savage and vindictive. All animals, in short, 

 that have been furnished with means of defence against 

 their enemies, use those means to the best advantage ; 

 and, therefore, strictly speaking, we cannot attribute to 

 them, on such occasions, any of the malevolent passions, 

 which more properly belong to their assailants ; they 

 merely exert those powers, for the preservation of their 

 own lives, which have been given them for that especial 

 purpose. 



CHAP. IV. 



ON THE MOTIONS OF ANIMALS. 



(108.) THE motions or actions of animals are almost 

 as various as their make and appearance, and are gene- 

 rally indicative of a wisdom and intelligence which can 



