272 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OF ANIMALS. CHAP. IX. 



three weeks, the old ones force them out of their bur- 

 rows, to take care of themselves. Even the mother 

 shows little affection for them ; and, instead of pro- 

 tecting her offspring in the season of danger, seeks her 

 own safety by burrowing deeper. As another instance 

 of animals which are peculiarly solitary, and, at the 

 same time, timid and defenceless, we have only to look 

 to the sloths, those extraordinary animals, which Na- 

 ture has designed to live only among trees, from the 

 branches of which they are constantly suspended. But, 

 on looking to the whole class of quadrupeds generally, 

 we shall find the largest proportion of solitary animals 

 among the carnivorous order ; and hence the same pe- 

 culiarity may be traced throughout the whole circle of 

 vertebrated animals, this order being the second, or 

 subtypical type. It is on this principle that the shrikes 

 (Laniado! Sw.), as a whole, are much more solitary 

 than the thrushes (JMerulidcK) ; the woodpeckers more 

 so than the parrots ; and the herons (Ardeidoe) more 

 than the sandpipers (Tringidte). Among annulose 

 animals the same principle pervades. The Aptera, or 

 wingless orders, give us no instances of even imperfect 

 associations of the species ; while, in the Ptilota, or 

 winged division, we have numerous examples of all the 

 modifications of the social principle. 



(286.) 2. Associations for the purpose of hunting, 

 show us the next step in the development of the social 

 instinct. These transient meetings should not be con- 

 founded with such as are common to the ruminating 

 quadrupeds, as well as to others, where the association 

 continues after the wants of nature are satisfied, rand 

 where a higher principle, beyond the mere gratification 

 of hunger or revenge, seems to be a moving cause. The 

 intercourse of which we are now speaking is chiefly 

 confined to carnivorous animals, or their representatives j 

 it is generally occasioned by the pressing calls of hun- 

 ger, and by an instinct which leads individuals to unite 

 their strength for accomplishing an act of rapine or of 

 bloodshed. While engaged in this pursuit, good fel^ 



