WAYS OF NATURE 



said that an iron hoop or wagon-tire placed around a 

 setting hen in the woods will protect her from the 

 foxes. 



Animals are afraid on general principles. Any- 

 thing new and strange excites their suspicions. In 

 a herd of animals, cattle, or horses, fear quickly be- 

 comes a panic and rages like a conflagration. Cattle- 

 men in the West found that any little thing at night 

 might kindle the spark in their herds and sweep the 

 whole mass away in a furious stampede. Each ani- 

 mal excites every other, and the multiplied fear of 

 the herd is something terrible. Panics among men 

 are not much different. 



In a discussion like the present one, let us use 

 words in their strict logical sense, if possible. Most 

 of the current misconceptions in natural history, as 

 in other matters, arise from a loose and careless use 

 of words. One says teach and train and instruct, 

 when the facts point to instinctive imitation or 

 unconscious communication. 



That the young of all kinds thrive better and 

 develop more rapidly under the care of their parents 

 than when deprived of that care is obvious enough. 

 It would be strange if it were not so. Nothing can 

 quite fill the place of the mother with either man or 

 bird or beast. The mother provides and protects. 

 The young quickly learn of her through the natural 

 instinct of imitation. They share her fears, they fol- 

 low in her footsteps, they look to her for protection; 

 90 



