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NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER XXIV. 



TO THE SAME. 

 DEAR SIR; Selborne, Aug. 15, 1775. 



There is a wonderful spirit of sociality in 

 the brute creation, independent of sexual 

 attachment : the congregating of grega- 

 rious birds in the Winter is a remarkable 

 instance. 



Many horses, though quiet with com- 

 pany, will not stay one minute in a field 

 by themselves : the strongest fences cannot 

 restrain them. My neighbour's horse will 

 not only not stay by himself abroad, but he 

 will not bear to be left alone in a strange 

 stable without discovering the utmost im- 

 patience, and endeavouring to break the 

 rack and manger with his fore feet. He 

 has been known to leap out at a stable- 

 window, through which dung was thrown, 

 after company ; and yet in other respects is 



