184 OTHEK ANIMALS 



bird was influenced not only by curiosity but by the 

 sensation some of us experience (myself, for instance) 

 of desiring to fling ourselves into space from a height? 

 Or it may be sheer mesmerism. The rabbit running 

 from a stoat or weasel seems to be overtaken rather by 

 coma than by the hunter, and it may be that this semi- 

 paralysis is related to the death-like trance of the " death- 

 feigning " instinct. (See pp. 94 and 183.) 



A PIG'S PASSION 



The following story of a strange animal friendship may 

 be of interest to you. I am the owner of a pony and a 

 small black pig, which, after the manner of the country, 

 runs loose and finds its own food. The pony is kept 

 stabled at night, but for part of the day is out grazing, 

 and is fed with corn every morning near the dining-room 

 window. The corn is put in a box which rests on the 

 ground. When the pony comes he is always accompanied 

 by the pig, who sits between his forefeet and occasionally 

 takes a little corn himself. If he takes too much, the 

 pony gives him a gentle bite, as a reminder not to be 

 greedy. The pig sleeps against the stable door (it is not 

 allowed to go inside) so as to be near its friend, and when 

 the pony is grazing the pig is always just alongside. 

 When I go out for a drive or a ride, and the pony has to 

 wait, friend pig lies down between his feet until we start. 

 On returning from the drive, the pig jumps about, making 

 the most absurd antics to greet his friend, and grunts 

 a queer sharp grunt, looking for all the world like a fat 

 and clumsy old spaniel greeting his master. He then trots 

 off to the stable with his friend. 



F. E. ALLHUSEN. 



P.S. No other pig dare go near the pony, as he has a 

 great dislike for the animals as a whole, and bites them 

 savagely. 



March 12, 1904. 



