CHAP. VIII. MIGRATION OF ANIMALS. 245 



chapter, as a modification of the imperfect societies of 

 the animal world ; but, being more intimately connected 

 with hybernation, we introduce it in this place. These 

 unions, independent of other and more paramount 

 causes, would seem to be produced by a love of so- 

 ciability, or by some feeling corresponding to that pro- 

 pensity of timid people congregating at the time of any 

 common danger or hazardous enterprise. It does not 

 appear, however, that, upon these occasions, the stronger 

 assist the weaker, or the courageous protect the pusilla- 

 nimous, at least, this mutual support is not put forth 

 when man is the aggressor ; and we, consequently, 

 have few or no opportunities of judging in respect of 

 their conduct when attacked by other foes. But be this 

 as it may, the associations in question are of a very dif- 

 ferent character from those last mentioned. They are 

 essentially peaceful ; and carry the mind back to those 

 primitive ages of the world, when the patriarchs of 

 families, accompanied by their descendants, journeyed to 

 fresh fields and more fruitful valleys, as those spots suc- 

 cessively became inadequate for the entire and increased 

 community. They seem to congregate, not for the mere 

 gratification of a sensual appetite, but to live together 

 for a season in peace and harmony; journeying and 

 feeding together, and generally moving under the direc- 

 tion of sagacious leaders. We have numerous and fa- 

 miliar instances of such associations both among ver- 

 tebrated and the annulose animals ; for in both classes 

 is the instinct of migration, in certain families, strongly 

 implanted. Looking to quadrupeds, we find the mon- 

 keys of the New World (and, no doubt, those of the 

 Old) changing their quarters, according -as the seasons 

 bring to perfection different species of fruits upon which 

 they feed : when these become exhausted, they bend 

 their course to other localities, in joyous and agile troops, 

 the females carrying their young ; and thus, leaping 

 from bough to bough, they travel a long chain of forests, 

 many leagues in extent, until they reach the next fruit- 

 bearing district, which is, in turn, abandoned for others 

 B 3 



