CHAPTER V 

 CURIOUS MESSMATES 



A LTHOUGH the majority of animals are very 

 <L\. clannish in their mode of life, and do not 

 associate with other creatures except of their own 

 kindred, yet certain kinds prove exceptions to the 

 general rule, and seek the society of alien folk. It 

 is true that in many cases such a proceeding is 

 governed solely by selfish interests, but, neverthe- 

 less, we find also instances of a real friendship be- 

 tween members of the Animal Kingdom which have 

 no ulterior motives behind them. Then again, on 

 the contrary, there are a vast number of creatures 

 which live in close contact with one another, and 

 between whom no love is lost, but so persistent are 

 the attentions of the unwanted guests that their 

 hosts are quite unable to free themselves from 

 their company, and are forced to accept the inevit- 

 able. 



We may therefore very well classify animal com- 

 panionships into three divisions ; namely : the true 

 companionship ; that governed by mutual benefit, 

 which may be termed indifferent friendship ; and, 

 finally, the unavoidable partnership. Under the 



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