48 The Morality of Nature 



it seems to be free from danger (and friendly humanity is 

 not counted dangerous) the work begins; and hour after 

 hour, Httle by little, the materials are brought by miles of 

 flight, with hours of work, and with singing and feeding 

 moments in between. And something in their relations with 

 their fellows protects the work of these birds when they are 

 absent; and something gives them the advantage of amity 

 with other birds who live nearby. When they are at home 

 or when they are out on a joint quest, their property is 

 sacred; the moral sense prevails among them and most of 

 their bird friends in a very high degree. The two are ready 

 with devotion unlimited to fight in defense of the nest 

 against any assailant. The whole colony, less devotedly 

 perhaps, but still with self-sacrifice, will fight for their 

 people's territory. Communal ownership of territory and 

 individual ownership of a home, with consequent rights of 

 property are facts established. Instead of that imperfect 

 morality which fails to stigmatize robbery or assault, which 

 prevails among some creatures of higher intelligence; these 

 have well-marked distinctions of this kind, none the less 

 moral because they are elementary. But these little folk 

 are utterly unconscious of their motives. In this uncon- 

 sciousness they enjoy decision; they are free from the 

 confusion which often befogs reasoned conduct. They do 

 naturally whatever they do. They do it unhesitatingly and 

 promptly; and when it succeeds, as it generally does, it is 

 convincingly right. The work continues into the labors of 

 parenthood and the impressive lesson continues in the moral- 

 ity of the associated action, as seen in the pair working with 

 self-sacrifice almost to the limit of endurance and risk, and 



