288 NATURAL HISTORY 



fences cannot restrain them. My neighbour's horse 

 will not only not stay by himself abroad, but he will 

 not bear to be left alone in a strange stable without 

 discovering the utmost impatience, and endeavouring 

 to break the rack and manger with his fore feet : he 

 has been known to leap out at a stable window, 

 through which dung was thrown, after company ; an1 

 yet in other respects is remarkably quiet. Oxen and 

 cows will not fatten by themselves; but will neglect 

 the finest pasture that is not recommended by society. 

 It would be needless to instance in sheep, which con- 

 stantly flock together. 



But this propensity seems not to be confined to ani- 

 mals of the same species ; for we know a doe, still alive, 

 that was brought up from a little fawn with a dairy of 

 cows ; with them it goes afield, and with them it returns 

 to the yard. The dogs of the house take no notice of 

 this deer, being used to her ; but, if strange dogs come 

 by, a chase ensues ; while the master smiles to see his 

 favourite securely leading her pursuers over hedge, or 

 gate, or stile, till she returns to the cows, who, with 

 fierce lowings and menacing horns, drive the assailants 

 quite out of the pasture. 



Even great disparity of kind and size does not always 

 prevent social advances and mutual fellowship. For a 

 very intelligent and observant person has assured me 

 that, in the former part of his life, keeping but one horse, 

 he happened also on a time to have but one solitary 

 hen. These two incongruous animals spent much of 

 their time together in a lonely orchard, where they saw 

 no creature but each other. By degrees an apparent 

 regard began to take place between these two seques- 

 tered individuals. The fowl would approach the qua- 

 druped with notes of complacency, rubbing herself gently 

 against his legs ; while the horse would look down with 

 satisfaction, and move with the greatest caution and 

 circumspection, lest he should trample on his diminu- 

 tive companion. Thus, by mutual good offices, each 



