178 Mr. French on the nature of Instinct. 



it was sometimes difficult to procure for them enough of the 

 latter; but their services were invaluable, often contributing to 

 our safety, and always to our ease by their constant vigilance ; 

 as we felt a confidence that no danger could approach us at night 

 without being announced by their barking. 



*' No circumstance could render the value and fidelity of these 

 animals so conspicuous and sensible, as a journey through regions 

 which, abounding in wild beasts of almost every class, gave con- 

 tinual opportunities of witnessing the strong contrast in their 

 habits, between the ferocious beasts of prey, which fly at the ap- 

 proach of man, and these kind, but too often injured, companions 

 of the human race. Many times when we have been travelling 

 over plains where those have fled the moment we appeared in 

 sight, have I turned my eyes towards my dogs, to admire their 

 attachment, and have felt a grateful aflFection towards them 

 for preferring our society to the wild liberty of other quadrupeds. 

 Often, in the middle of the night, when all my people have been 

 fast asleep around the fire, have I stood to contemplate those 

 faithful animals lying by their side, and have learned to esteem 

 them for their social inclination to mankind. When wandering 

 over pathless deserts, oppressed with vexation and distress at the 

 conduct of my own men, I have turned to these, as my onlj 

 friends, and felt how much inferior to them was man when actu- 

 ated only by selfish views. 



*' The familiarity which subsists between this animal and our 

 own race, is so common to almost every country of the globe, 

 that any remark upon it must seem superfluous ; but I cannot 

 avoid believing that it is the universality of the fact which pre- 

 vents the greater part of mankind from reflecting duly on the 

 subject. While almost every other quadruped fears man as its 

 most formidable enemy, here is one which regards him as his com- 

 panion, and follows him as his friend. We must not mistake the 

 nature of the case : it is not because we train him to our use, and 

 have made choice ofhifn in prejerence to other animals; but be- 

 cause this particular species feels a natural desire to be useful to 

 man, dcaAfrom spontaneous impulse attaches itself to him. Were 

 it not so, we should see in various countries an equal fannliarltv 



