THE ANIMAL DISLIKE OF SOLITUDE 37 



to be alone ; but there is little doubt that, so long 

 as it can secure the society of its master, it can 

 dispense with the company of other dogs. Cattle, 

 on the other hand, have a strong liking for the 

 company of their own kind. Waterton, who was 

 never tired of promoting the happiness of all 

 animals tame and wild, was for some time exercised 

 by the difficulty of allowing his cattle to lean over 

 the gates which separated the grazing-fields on his 

 estate, and at the same time preserving the gates 

 from being strained and broken by the pushing 

 and jostling which generally takes place when the 

 cattle in one meadow are making the acquaintance 

 of those in the next. He met the difficulty by 

 stretching an iron chain across from one post to 

 the other on the opposite side to that on which 

 the gate was hung, and so providing a more sub- 

 stantial barrier for the broad chests of the cattle 

 to lean against. Waterton was in all probability no 

 loser by his thoughtful provision for the social 

 amenities of animal life. Society is almost as 

 necessary to the well-being of animals as of men. 

 When wild and free, they can, and do in most 

 cases, secure its enjoyment for themselves. When 

 confined, or in the semi-restraint of domesticity, 

 a wise master will see that this factor of animal 

 happiness is secured. Fortunately, they are, as a 



