184 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS [Joi 



ally giving off shocks of irritable temper, not only as a means 

 of defence, but, and very especially, as a means of offence. The 

 force of the shock gets weakened, because those who have to 

 bear them get used to the sensation. Shocks of temper which 

 are terrible at first become trivial by repetition. But the irri- 

 table human being, especially if a female, is unlike the electric 

 fish in regard to the exhaustion following the shocks. Whilst 

 the fish certainly suffers in that way, it is obvious that the 

 human specimen does not. The fish lose their vitality by giving 

 off shocks, but irritable human beings become exhilarated and 

 happy when they can exercise their functions in that direction. 



EL. 



The Follies of Jealousy. 



The stag of the red-deer (Cervus elaplius) in the early part of 

 September becomes exceedingly jealous. If a rival happens to 

 approach his seraglio a combat ct outrance immediately takes 

 place. The two adversaries rush impetuously one against the 

 other ; on their feet and knees they fight ; long and obstinate 

 are such battles ; wounds are given and received, and blows are 

 parried with consummate skill. Sometimes their antlers get 

 entangled to that extent that they are unable to separate. 

 Fastened together, the two heroes strive in vain to disentangle 

 themselves, and some of these hostile couples thus closely riveted 

 together ultimately perish of famine. Such are the follies of 

 jealousy amongst stags. Amongst men they are far more gro- 

 tesque, as may be seen by a reference to coroners' inquests, law 

 reports, or often by even a glance at an ordinary newspaper. 



M. 



A Joint Stock Company. 



The idea of a joint stock company was probably first bor- 

 rowed from the fox. The ways by which rogues associate them- 

 selves together to plunder honest folk, the strongest keeping in 

 the background, and the weakest being put forward, very much 

 remind one of the account given by Dr. Henderson, in his 

 " Journal of a Kesidence in Iceland," of the manner in which 

 the Arctic foxes, which abound in the vicinity of the North 

 Cape, hunt various species of wild fowl. " They proceed," he 



