310 ANIMALS OF THE 



owners of the field appear to interrupt their de- 

 predations, their faithful sentinel instantly gives 

 notice, by crying out, Houp, houp, houp ! which 

 the rest perfectly understand, and all at once 

 throwing down the corn they hold in their left 

 hands, scamper off upon three legs, carrying the 

 remainder in the right. If they are still hotly 

 pursued, they then are content to throw down 

 their whole burden, and to take refuge among 

 their woods, on the top of which they remain in 

 perfect security. 



Were we to give faith to what some travellers 

 assure us, of the government, policies, and subor- 

 dination of these animals, we might perhaps be 

 taxed with credulity ; but we have no reason to 

 doubt that they are under a kind of discipline, 

 which they exercise among each other. They 

 are generally seen to keep together in companies, 

 to march in exact order, and to obey the voice of 

 some particular chieftain, remarkable for his size 

 and gravity. One species of these, which M. 

 Buffon calls the Ouarine, and which are remark- 

 able for the loudness and the distinctness of their 

 voice, are still more so for the use to which they 

 convert it. " I have frequently been a witness," 

 says Margrave, " of their assemblies and delibera- 

 tions. Every day, both morning and evening, 

 the ouarines assemble in the woods to receive in- 

 structions. When all come together, one among 

 the number takes the highest place on a tree, and 

 makes a signal with his hand to the rest to sit 

 round, in order to hearken. As soon as he sees 

 them placed, he begins his discourse with so loud 



