282 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. IX. 



illustrate these social communities. Their warrens, 

 in fact, are villages ; the burrows have usually several 

 entrances, and are common to many individuals ; but 

 all, as it is said, are of the same family. When these 

 warrens are very populous, the burrows are separated 

 by very slight intervals, and sometimes even commu- 

 nicate with each other. " We are assured, on the 

 authority of those who have paid great attention to 

 the subject, that rabbits are not merely social, but 

 evince an interest in each other, and even have 

 something like respect for the rights of property. In 

 their republic, as in that of Lacedsemon, old age, 

 parental affection, and hereditary rights are respected ; 

 the same burrow is said to pass from father to son, and 

 lineally from generation to generation; it is never 

 abandoned by the same family without necessity, but 

 is enlarged as the members of the family increase, by 

 the addition of more galleries or apartments."* The 

 large Brazilian water cavy, or Capybara, is said to live 

 in families, and never to quit the vicinity of the spot 

 where they were born. 



(295.) From quadrupeds, we may now turn to 

 BIRDS. Of all those which inhabit Europe, the crow 

 family (Corvidte) are the most social ; for, although 

 numerous others live, for the most part, in companion- 

 ship the greatest part of the year, yet, when the period 

 of incubation arrives, they separate and disperse. With 

 the rook, however, it is different : the social principle 

 is permanent; and they accordingly form aerial villages, 

 fabricated on the summits of the loftiest trees, and rear 

 their young in a perpetual scene of bustle and excite- 

 ment. Their attachment to these spots is very remark- 

 able, and has frequently given rise to obstinate battles 

 between the last possessors and stranger flocks, who 

 have attempted a usurpation of the domain. The com- 

 mon heron, although now comparatively scarce in this 

 country, likewise builds in the same manner ; although 

 at other times, from the nature of its food, it is a so- 



* Griff. Cuv. vol. iii. p. 219. 



