ACTIVE DEFENCE 351 



art has derived the formation of squares, are only exceptions to 

 the rule, and take place only in cases of sudden attack or when 

 the herds are driven to straits. Usually the herd seeks its safety 

 in rapid flight. Tearing along in furious gallop, with ears and 

 mane erect, the herd dashes away with the speed of the wind, 

 driving their young ones before them, the males galloping on the 

 flanks and at the end of the column to protect the herd in its 

 hurried flight." The military square, however, does not seem to 

 have been copied from the horse. It is believed to have been 

 invented by Sir William Wallace, who arranged his pikemen in 

 serried circles to resist the onslaughts of the English knights at 

 the battle of Falkirk. The squaring of these circles, if the ex- 

 pression may be permitted, was a further stage in evolution. 



Man is the only serious enemy of the Hippopotamus, which 

 is an animal of peaceable disposition except when attacked, but is 

 then very formidable on account of its immense strength, backed 

 by an armoury of tusk-like incisors and canines. Most Swine 

 rely for defence on their upwardly -directed tusk -like canines, 

 which are kept sharp by constantly rubbing against one another, 

 and are particularly well developed in the male. These creatures 

 are naturally peaceable, but when brought to bay, thrusts from 

 their sharp tusks, given laterally or else from below, are capable 

 of ripping up most antagonists. The little Peccaries of South 

 America defend themselves by biting, as their canines, though 

 sharp, are small, and not adapted for thrusting, the upper ones 

 also being turned downwards, as is usually the case among 

 Mammals. They live in large herds, and co-operate for defence 

 against enemies, man included. 



Most Ruminants are provided with defensive weapons in the 

 form either of antlers or horns. Antlers, characteristic of deer, 

 are bony outgrowths usually possessed by the male only, and 

 shed annually. Although the two last facts are enough to prove 

 that the primary object of these structures is not defence, their 

 hardness and sharpness nevertheless makes them very effective for 

 this purpose. Sir Samuel Baker (in Wild Beasts and their Ways) 

 describes as follows the way in which on one occasion, in Ceylon, 

 an Axis or Spotted Deer {Cervus axis) defended himself: — " I saw 

 Killbuck reach the flank, but before he had time to make a spring, 

 the stag threw his head upon one side, and backwards, so as to 

 strike the dog with the extreme points of his long anders. A 



