THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. “169 
He has been known to leap out of a stable window after com- 
pany; and yet in other respects is remarkably quiet. Oxen 
and cows will not fatten by themselves; but will neglect the 
finest pasture that is not recommended by society. It would 
be needless to instance sheep, which constantly flock together. 
But this propensity seems not to be confined to animals of 
the same species; for we know a doe, still alive, that was 
brought up 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 by, a chase ensues; while 
the master smiles to see his favorite, securely leading her 
pursuers over hedge, or gate, or stile; till she returns to the 
cows, who, with fierce lowings and menacing horns, drive the 
assailants quite out of the pasture. 
Even great disparity of kind and size does not always pre- 
vent 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 much of their time together in a 
lonely orchard, where they saw no creature but each other. 
By degrees an apparent regard began to take place between 
these two sequestered individuals. The fowl would approach 
the quadruped with notes of complacency, rubbing herself 
gently against his legs: while the horse would look down with 
satisfaction, and move with the greatest caution and circum- 
spection, lest he should trample on his diminutive com- 
panion. Thus, by mutual good offices, each seemed to console 
the vacant hours 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.” 
