ANIMAL ETIQUETTE 43 



is said that the word of command for action in the 

 Chinese drill is first, ' Prepare to look fierce ; ' next, 

 4 Look fierce ; ' and, thirdly, ' Approach the enemy.' 

 The swan does all this, and something more. He 

 sets up his wings like plumes, and draws his head 

 very far back, which corresponds with the first and 

 second words of command ; but for his mode of 

 approach he always uses a special stroke in swim- 

 ming which is kept for grand occasions. He strikes 

 the water with both feet together, which sends him 

 forward with a rush, the water rippling from his 

 chest as from the prow of a ship. Then he strikes 

 again, as his * way ' gets less, and in this manner will 

 swim very Jong distances, either in pursuit of his 

 enemy or of some coy female swan. If he chose 

 to swim in the ordinary manner, or to fly, or even 

 to get out on to the bank and run, he would have 

 no difficulty in overtaking the other. But etiquette 

 prescribes that this slow and stately stroke shall be 

 used on such occasions, and swans are too con- 

 servative to break the rule. 



Conventional rules are most useful in intercourse 

 with strangers, and this feeling, the result of deliberate 

 reflection among men, seems quite as well understood 

 by animals. The number of steps which a Prince 

 or Ambassador might advance to meet the other 

 without derogating from his dignity, and the frequent 



