How Animals Talk 



himself, he knows well what the look means, that 

 a rush will swiftly follow; and he anticipates the 

 rush by taking to his heels. Or the buck, having 

 once escaped the charge of a hunting beast, will 

 remember his experience the next time he finds 

 himself an object of scrutiny, and will flee from 

 it as from any other discomfort. 



Whether this action is the result of instinctive 

 or deductive knowledge is here of no consequence: 

 let the psychologists pick a bone over it. Since 

 we have in our heads a strong aversion to being 

 observed too closely, we are probably facing an 

 instinct, which is stronger in the brute than in the 

 man; but it is the fact, not the explanation thereof, 

 which is important. The simple fact is, that wild 

 birds and beasts will not endure watching; and 

 you begin to sympathize with their notion when 

 you mark the eyes of a stalking cat, with their 

 terrible fire just before she springs. There is 

 always more or less of that fire in a watchful eye ; 

 you may see it glow or blaze under a man's nar- 

 rowed lids before he takes quick action ; and it is the 

 kindling of that dangerous light which a sensitive 

 creature expects and avoids when he finds you 

 watching him. 



Did you ever follow an old cock-partridge in 

 the woods with intent to kill him? If so, you 

 have a living picture of the truth I have explained 



[i8ol 



