274 PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGY. 
Before leaving this branch of the subject, we may ad- 
vert toa very remarkable perversion of this instinct, (if 
we may venture to call it so,) in the case of several social 
quadrupeds. Ifa deer is wounded by a shot, the herd 
will refuse to admit it again into their number, but will 
persecute to death the unfortunate individual. The same 
instinct is said to prevail with wild cattle and elephants. 
How different this treatment from that disinterested sup- 
port of each other, which in all other cases prevails in the 
flock ? 
As nearly connected with this active power which we are 
now considering, we may enumerate the feelings expressed 
by the terms gratitude and pity. In one case we feel 
thankful for the kind offices of others, and express our 
feelings by a disposition to make a similar return. In the 
other, we sympathise with the afflicted, and endeavour to re- 
move their distress. These feelings are necessary, to prompt 
to those reciprocal acts of kindness and protection, which we 
witness to be performed by all animals possessed of the con- 
gregating instinct. They are displayed, in the first in- 
stance, to the individuals of their own species ; and when 
there is a transference of affection to an individual of ano- 
ther kind, there is a corresponding change in the object of 
their gratitude and pity. 
killed the male. ‘+ Ponto (for that was the dog’s name) was most severe- 
ly punished for the misdemeanour, and had the dead bird tied to his neck. 
The solitary goose became extremely distressed for the loss of her partner 
and only companion ;, and probably having been attracted to the dog’s ken- 
nel by the sight of her dead mate, she seemed determined to persecute Pon- 
to by her constant attendance and continual vociferations ; and after a little 
time, a strict amnity and friendship subsisted between these incongruous 
animals; they fed out of the same trough,—lived under the same roof,— 
and in the same straw-bed kept each other warm; and when the dog was 
taken to the field, the inharmonious lamentations of the goose for the ab- 
sence of her friend, were incessant.” 
