The Strange Instincts of Cattle, 335 
affected in tlie two opposite ways, some exhibiting 
extreme terror and others only anger at a sudden 
display of scarlet colour by the sliepherd or herder. 
The persecution of a sick animal by its companions 
comes next under consideration. 
It will have been remarked, with surprise by some 
readers, no doubt, that I have set down as two 
different instincts this persecution of a sick or weakly 
individual by its fellows, and the sudden deadly 
rage tbat sometimes impels the herd to turn upon 
and destroy a wounded or distressed companion. 
It is usual for writers on the instincts of animals to 
speak of them as one : and I presume that they 
regard this sudden deadly rage of several individuals 
against a companion as merely an extreme form of 
the common persecuting instinct or impulse. They 
are not really one, but are as distinct in origin and 
character as it is possible for any two instincts to 
be. The violent and fatal impulse starts simul- 
taneously into life and action, and is contagious, 
affecting all tlie members of the herd like a sudden 
madness. The other is neither violent nor con- 
tagious : the persecution is intermittent ; it is often 
confined to one or to a very few members of the 
herd, and seldom joined in by the chief member, the 
leader or head to whom all the others give way. 
Concerning this head of the herd, or flock, or 
pack, it is necessary to say something more. Some 
gregarious animals, particularly birds, live together 
in the most perfect peace and amity ; and here no 
leader is required, because in their long association 
together as a species in flocks, they have attained to 
a oneness of mind, so to speak, which causes them 
