THE POULTRY-YARD. 293 



by the behaviour of Wind kittens when they 

 smell one of their hereditary enemies ; and in 

 like manner, as has been shown in a previous 

 chapter, sheep, when they have lambs, display 

 a strong animosity to all dogs ; although it is 

 probable that, as long as man has kept flocks 

 and herds, these animals have played the part 

 of protectors. Most of our domestic animals, 

 if taken to countries where lions or other large 

 or formidable beasts of prey are found, evince 

 an instinctive fear of such enemies before they 

 can gain any actual knowledge of their dangerous 

 nature ; and this is undoubtedly attributable to an 

 innate traditional aversion. 



But man, if Darwin is rieht in his conclusions, 

 is able to enter into association with most of 

 the creatures whose company he finds desirable 

 without being hampered by any traditional feuds 

 dating back to the Eocene epoch. At a time 

 when the early Canidse and Felidse were leading 

 a cat-and-dog life, and when the primeval wolves 

 continually harassed the as yet untamed flocks, 

 he led a peaceful frugivorous existence in his 

 native forests. His arboreal habits enabled him 

 to live a higher life aloof from and superior to 

 earthly strife and turmoil, and made it easy for 



