An Instance Which Shows That Dumb Beasts Can Be as Kind as Men.
A herd of wild Asian buffaloes will charge any foe, even a tiger, to save the life of one of their number who has been wounded.
Elephants, baboons and other animals will do the same in a wild state.
On the other hand, monkeys have been known to fall upon one of their number who is ill and drown him, possibly as an act of mercy. Similarly, wolves destroy one of the pack which becomes helpless.
If an otter is trapped his brother otters will run around him all night showing the utmost concern.
A writer in the London Spectator states that he has seen sparrows in groups discussing and lamenting when one of their number had fallen into a trap. Next day when a robin was caught the sparrows paid no attention.
He adds that he had seen a big pig try to help a smaller one through a hole in the fence by pulling at its head.
St. John tells of a Highland shepherd whose cat brought him some edible bird nearly every day in the year.
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