192 
THE NATURAL HISTORY 
[LETT. 
lip from a little fawn with a dairy of cows ; with them it goes 
a-field, and with them it returns to the yard. The dogs of the 
house take no notice of this deer, being used to her ; but, if 
strange dogs come hy, a chase ensues ; while the master smiles 
to see his favourite securely leading lier pursuers over hedge, 
or gate, or stile, till she returns to the cows, who, with fierce 
lo wings and menacing horns, drive the assailants quite out of 
the pasture. 
Even great disparity of kind and size does not alvv^ays prevent 
social advances and mutual fellowship. For a very intelligent 
and observant person has assured me that, in the former part of 
his life, keeping but one horse, he happened also on a time to have 
but one solitary hen. These two incongruous animals spent 
nmch of their time together in a lonely orchard, where they 
saw no creature but each other. By degrees an apparent regard 
Ijegan to take place between these two sequestered individuals. 
The fowl would approach the quadruped with notes of com- 
placency, rubbing herself gently against his legs : while the 
liorse would look down with satisfaction, and move with the 
greatest caution and circumspection, lest he should trample on 
his diminutive companion. Thus by mutual good offices, each 
seemed to console the vacant honrs of the other : so that Milton, 
when he puts the following sentiment in the mouth of Adam, 
seems to be somewhat mistaken : — 
" Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl, 
So well converse, nor with the ox the ape." 
Selborne, Aug. 15, 1*775. 
