436 THE PHILOSOPHY 



hour, they carry to their neft, are not intended to be food to 

 the animals, but, like the bits of ftraw and wood, are em- 

 ployed as materials in the conftru6lion of their habitation. 



2. Imprcper Societies. Mahy animals are gregarious, though 

 they unite not with a view to any joint operation, fuch as 

 conftrj(Sling common habitations, or mutually and indifcrim- 

 inately nourifhing and protefling the offspring produced by 

 the whole fociety. But, even among animals of this defcrip- 

 tion, there are motives or bonds of alTociation, and, in many 

 inftances, they mutually affift and defend each other from 

 hoftile alTaults. 



The ox is a gregarious animal. When a herd of oxen are 

 pafturing in a meadow, if a wolf makes his appearance, they 

 inftantly form themfelves in battle array, and prefent their 

 united horns to the enemy. This warlike difpolition often 

 intimidates the wolf, and obliges him to retire. 



In winter, the hinds and young flags affociate, and form 

 herds, which are always more numerous in proportion to 

 the feverity of the weather. One bond of their fociety feems 

 to be the advantage of mutual warmth derived from each 

 other's bodies. In fpring they difperfe, and the hinds con- 

 ceal themfelves in the forefts, where they bring forth their 

 young. The young ftags, however, continue together j they 

 love to brovv fe in company •, and heceflity alone forces them 

 to feparate. 



The Count de Buffon reprefents (heep as ftupid creatures, 

 which are incapable of defending themfelves againft the at- 

 tacks of any rapacious animal. He maintains that the race 

 muft long ago have been extinguiflied, if man had not tak- 

 en them under his immediate prote<Stion. But Nature has 

 furnifhed every fpecies of animated beings with weapons 

 and arts of defence which are fufficient for individual prefer- 

 vation as well as the continuation of the kind- Sheep are 

 endowed with a ftrong afTociating principle. When threat- 



