88 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



THE SURVIVAL OF INSTINCTS. 



By ELI AS LEWIS, Jk. 



ANIMAL life has its episodes, and apparently abnormal habits. 

 A gentleman, residing near this city (Brooklyn), had recently 

 a turkey tethered with a cord in a field during the early life of her 

 brood. He had also several other turkeys with which this one had a 

 long time associated, apparently on the most friendly terms, find which, 

 during her temporary confinement, strolled and fed quietly around 

 her. But it happened one day that she became entangled with the 

 cord, so that her feet were drawn together, and, being unable to walk, 

 lay struggling on the ground. While thus helpless her associates 

 attacked her, evidently for the purpose of killing her outright. They 

 made no onset as when fighting, but deliberately and in the coolest 

 manner possible commenced their butchery by picking the head of the 

 unfortunate bird. 



So intent were they that they scarcely heeded the approach of our 

 friend, who, from a distance, saw what was going on. Before he 

 reached the spot, the assailants had destroyed one eye and laid bare 

 the skull, inflicting injuries so great upon the creature that she soon 

 died. A similar act was repeated shortly afterward in the same flock, 

 and the phenomenon — certainly a curious one — is, we believe, not un- 

 usual. 



Observation and inquiry have shown that a like disposition appears 

 not among turkeys only, but in several species of animals, exciting 

 them, when aroused, to attack and worry those of their kind if weak, 

 sick, or disabled. It has been noticed with cattle, swine, dogs, and, 

 as has been suggested by observers, may occur with all domesticated 

 or partly domesticated species in which it had existed in their wild 

 state. We are informed by drovers, of whom we have made careful 

 inquiry, that when herds of cattle are hurriedly driven, and especially 

 when they become excited or alarmed, one having fallen, or showing 

 signs of weakness, is sometimes set upon and gored by its associates. 



Two gentlemen, who have been drovers forty years, and during 

 many years were themselves collectors and drivers of herds, assure us 

 that they have often witnessed such attacks, and have interfered to 

 prevent injury. They also state that the habit appears to be more 

 frequent with animals which have run at large without much care or 

 restraint, than with those well domesticated. 



Such occurrences, however, are well known among domesticated 

 cattle. A gentleman residing on Long Island had, a few years since, 

 a herd of cattle, one of which was taken suddenly sick, but was turned, 

 as usual, into the field with the others. In a short time he noticed 

 great disturbance among them, and, on hurrying to the spot, found 



