274 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. IX. 



have reached the point of their destination. Nor are 

 the poor wanderers exempt from nocturnal enemies, 

 for even the night is almost as dangerous to them 

 as the day ; and this, hy reason of the numerous owls, 

 which form predatory bands for the same purpose as 

 the diurnal falcons, and arrive in Sicily precisely at the 

 same time. The well-known associations of vultures 

 over the dead carcase of an animal are of this descrip- 

 tion ; they are drawn together hy hunger, and hunger 

 alone, without any of that kindly feeling towards each 

 other, so often manifested among our domesticated ani- 

 mals. 



(288.) Among insects, and other annulose animals, 

 we have no very striking instance of associations for 

 rapine ; but these, more than any other creatures, are 

 drawn together for the mere purpose of feeding in con- 

 cert. Their office, in the economy of nature, renders 

 this association absolutely necessary. Is a mass of 

 animal or vegetable substance hastening to decay, and 

 therefore essential to be removed ; it is immediately 

 attacked by a whole party of flies, beetles, or wasps, 

 which come suddenly together from we know not where, 

 and unite their labours in accelerating that decompo- 

 sition which Nature has ordained. This done, the feast 

 provided for the labourers devoured, and the evil re- 

 moved, the guests depart, and each pursues " its track- 

 less course in space." 



(289.) 4. Associations of the male sex, during the 

 season of pairing, are not very frequent, and will there- 

 fore require but a short notice. Among vertebrated 

 animals, this propensity is most remarkable in the tribe 

 of ruminating quadrupeds. Dr. Richardson, speaking 

 of the arctic reindeer *, observes that, in May, the 

 females proceed towards the sea coast ; and towards the 

 and of June, the males are in full march in the same 

 direction : soon after their arrival on the coast, the 

 females drop their young ; they commence their return 

 to the south in September, and reach the vicinity of the 



* Rangifer Aretica, North. Zool. voL i. p. 241. 



