The Swarm Spirit 



he was born. I conclude, therefore, naturally and 

 reasonably, that my caribou broke away and my 

 incoming plover changed their flight because one 

 of their number detected danger and sent forth a 

 warning impulse, which the others obeyed promptly 

 because they were accustomed to just such com- 

 munications. There was nothing unnatural or 

 mysterious or even new in the experience. So far 

 as I can see or judge, there is no place or need for a 

 collective herd or flock impulse, and the birds 

 and beasts have no training or experience by which 

 to interpret such an impulse if it fell upon them 

 out of heaven. 



Our human experience, moreover, especially that 

 which befalls on the borderland of the subconscious 

 world where the wild creatures mostly live, may 

 give point and meaning to our natural philosophy. 

 There are emotions, desires, impulses which may 

 be conveyed by shouting; and there are others 

 which may well be told without shouting, or even 

 without words. A cheerful man radiates cheerful- 

 ness; a strong man, strength; a brave man, 

 courage (we do not know to what extent or with 

 what limitations); and a woman may be more 

 irritated by a man who says nothing than by a 

 man who says too much. These common daily 

 trials may be as side-lights on the tremendous fact 

 that love, fear, hate, every intense emotion is a 



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