of Selborne 167 



not recommended by society. It would be needless to 

 instance in sheep, which constantly flock together. 



But this propensity seems not to be confined to 

 animals 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 assail- 

 ants 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 sequestered individuals. 

 The fowl would approach the quadruped 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 diminutive companion. Thus, 

 by mutual good offices, each seemed to console the 

 vacant hours of the other : so that Milton, when he puts 

 the following sentiment in the mouth of Adam, seems 

 to be somewhat mistaken : 



^ " Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl, 

 So well converse, nor with the ox the ape." 



