346 The Nahtralist in La Plata, 
animals canglit in a trap or enclosure attacking and 
destroying eacli other in their frenzy ; and the fact 
that some fierce-tempered carnivorous 'mammals 
will devour the companion they have killed. It is 
an instinct of animals like wolves and peccaries to 
devour the enemy they have overcome and slain : 
thus, when the jaguar captures a peccary out of a 
drove, and does not quickly escape with his prize 
into a tree, he is instantly attacked and slain and 
then consumed, even to the skin and bones. This 
is the wolf’s and the peccary’s instinct ; and the 
devouring of one of their own companions is an 
inevitable consequence of the mistake made in the 
hrst place of attacking and killing it. In no other 
circumstances, not even when starving, do they prey 
on their own species. 
If the explanation I have offered should seem a 
true or highly probable one, it will, I feel sure, 
prove acceptable to many lovers of animals, who, 
regarding this seemingly ruthless instinct, not as 
an aberration but as in some vague way advantage- 
ous to animals in their struggle for existence, are 
yet unable to think of it without pain and horror ; 
indeed, I know those who refuse to think of it at 
all, who would gladly disbelieve it if they could. 
It should be a relief to them to be able to look on 
it no longer as something ugly and hateful, a blot 
on nature, but as an illusion, a mistake, an un- 
conscious crime, so to speak, that has for its motive 
the noblest passion that animals know— dhat sub- 
lime courage and dariug which they exhibit in 
defence of a distressed companion. This fiery spirit 
in animals, which makes them forget their own 
