370 THE HARMONIES OF NATURE. 



suddenly stop, and rapidly follow him as tie bounds away from 

 the scene of peril. 



In the Peruvian or Bolivian highlands, the she-vicunas roam 

 about in small herds, under the protection and guidance of a 

 single male, who always remains a few paces apart from his 

 harem, and keeps watch with the most sedulous attention. At 

 the least sign of danger, he immediately gives the alarm by a 

 shrill cry, and rapidly steps forward. The herd, immediately 

 assembling, turns inquisitively towards the side whence danger is 

 apprehended, advances a few paces, and then, suddenly wheeling, 

 flies, at first slowly, and constantly looking back, but soon with 

 unrivalled swiftness. The male covers the retreat, frequently 

 standing still and watching the enemy. 



Many of the monkeys likewise set out guards while plunder- 

 ing the fields. Thus, a troop of baboons will sometimes form a 

 long chain, extending from the vicinity of their ordinary habi- 

 tation to the garden which they happen to be engaged in rob- 

 bing, and pitch the produce of their theft from hand to hand till 

 it reaches its destination in the mountains. Should any dis- 

 turbance occur, the guard utters a loud cry, and the whole band 

 is out of sight in an instant. 



In the Alpine solitudes, just below the region of perpetual snow, 

 the social marmot enjoys its short summer under the protection 

 of a watchful sentinel, who, at the approach of any danger, gives 

 a shrill whistle, when they all retire into their burrows. Trusting 

 to the attention of their guard, they are seen sporting in fine 

 weather about the neighbourhood of their retreats, where they 

 delight in basking in the sunshine, and frequently assume an 

 upright posture, sitting on their hind-feet. 



In a very different scene, on the waveworn rocks and desolate 

 shores of the Polar seas, we find among the walruses and the 

 seals the same protective instinct. In fine weather the former 

 love to assemble on the ice, where they may be seen in herds, 

 consisting occasionally of upwards of a hundred animals each. 

 In these situations they appear greatly to enjoy themselves, 

 rolling and sporting about, and frequently making the air 

 resound with their bellowing, which bears some resemblance 

 to that of a bull ; but these wary animals take the precaution 

 of having a sentinel to warn them of any danger to which 

 they may be liable. So universal seems the observance of 



