3l6 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



the fact that danger is present but to measure its 

 imminence ; and they all take the hint without 

 delay and scamper towards the bushes, suddenly 

 revealing many moving specks of white where the 

 observer had not suspected the presence of a 

 living creature. 



When an opportunity offers for watching wild 

 fallow deer we find very much the same order of 

 events when one of their number takes the alarm 

 and bounds away waving his white flag. The 

 others at once take warning — although probably 

 they have not learned anything concerning the 

 approaching danger by means of their own senses 

 — and follow their comrade without a moment's 

 hesitation. 



It seems plain, then, that the conspicuous white 

 tails of timid creatures such as rabbits and deer 

 play the part of danger signals to the rest of 

 the community. But as soon as we reach this 

 explanation we find ourselves face to face with 

 a further problem. Can it be possible that the 

 white tail of the rabbit or the deer is an emblem 

 of altruism 1 For it would appear that each 

 beast, by possessing and displaying a conspicuous 

 tail, exposes itself to its enemies for the good of 

 its fellows. 



