The Strange Instincts of Cattle. 335 



affected in the two opposite ways, some exhibiting 

 extreme terror and others only anger at a sudden 

 display of scarlet colour by the shepherd or herder. 



The persecution of a sick animal by its companions 

 comes next under consideration. 



It will have been remarked, with surprise by some 

 readers, no doubt, that I have set down as two 

 different instincts this persecution of a sick or weakly 

 individual by its fellows, and the sudden deadly 

 rage that sometimes impels the herd to turn upon 

 and destroy a wounded or distressed companion. 

 It is usual for writers on the instincts of animals to 

 speak of them as one : and I presume that they 

 regard this sudden deadly rage of several individuals 

 against a companion as merely an extreme form of 

 the common persecuting instinct or impulse. They 

 are not really one, but are as distinct in origin and 

 character as it is possible for any two instincts to 

 be. The violent and fatal impulse starts simul- 

 taneously into life and action, and is contagious, 

 affecting all the members of the herd like a sudden 

 madness. The other is neither violent nor con- 

 tagious : the persecution is intermittent ; it is often 

 confined to one or to a very few members of the 

 herd, and seldom joined in by the chief member, the 

 leader or head to whom all the others give way. 



Concerning this head of the herd, or flock, or 

 pack, it is necessary to say something more. Some 

 gregarious animals, particularly birds, live together 

 in the most perfect peace and amity ; and here no 

 leader is required, because in their long association 

 together as a species in flocks, they have attained to 

 a oneness of mind, so to speak, which causes them 



