154 ANIMAL ARTISANS 



good offices among those of the same species. We 

 speak now of animals in a state of Nature, not domes- 

 ticated. The former is probably an idea quite beyond 

 the range of the ordinary animal mind. It is possible 

 that those of one species feel sorrow when those of 

 another are in trouble or pain. But there is no 

 evidence whatever that wild animals ever do this. 

 There is a kind of chance association on the same 

 feeding-ground, or sometimes under stress of flood 

 or fire. But we can recall no single instance, for 

 example, of a wild animal of one species attempting 

 to defend an animal of another, even when they are 

 quite competent to do so. It is doubtful if a case has 

 been recorded of buffaloes charging to protect a 

 wounded antelope, though they will do so to save a 

 wounded member of their own herd ; or of elephants, 

 or baboons, or other creatures which live in society, 

 attempting to protect the wounded young of any 

 other species but their own. 



Among the creatures which seem to assume the 

 role of sentries for the protection of other animals, 

 there is one, the rhinoceros bird, whose behaviour 

 almost justifies the belief that it feels some duty to 

 the antelope or buffalo on whose insect enemies it 

 is feeding ; so extraordinary, and apparently organised, 

 is the watch which it maintains. But this is a very 

 restless, active bird, and it is quite possible that its 

 familiarity with the species on whose backs it finds 

 food makes it identify itself to some extent with 

 them. It probably imagines the buffalo to be almost 

 a part of itself. In any case, the instances of in- 



