Home › Contents › The Dead Chamois

The Dead Chamois

(21) or the interests of many by the watchfulness | perform many little services for each of one or more, is represented in the life other; horses nibble, and cows lick each of not a few quadrupeds. other, on any spot which itches; monkeys "The most common mutual service in search each other for external parasites; the higher animals," says Mr. Darwin, "is and Brehm states that after a troop of to warn one another of danger by means green monkeys has rushed through a of the united senses of all. Every sports- thorny brake, each monkey stretches man knows how difficult it is to approach itself on a branch, and another monkey animals in a herd or troop. Wild horses sitting by 'conscientiously' examines and cattle do not, I believe, make any its fur, and extracts every thorn danger signal; but the attitude of any burr." one of them who first discovers an enemy The hinder limbs of the Chamois are warns the others. Rabbits stamp loudly longer than its fore legs. Hence we may on the ground with their hind feet as a readily understand the great facility with signal; sheep and chamois do the same which a Chamois will bound up the steepwith their fore feet, uttering likewise a est crags. But the advantage thus conwhistle. Many birds and some mammals ferred upon the Chamois in leaping uppost sentinels, which, in the case of seals, wards becomes a disadvantage in the are said generally to be the females. The downward progress of the animal. The leader of a troop of monkeys acts as the descentis, however, facilitated by rudimensentinel, and utters cries expressive both tary toes, which serve as a kind of brake of danger and of safety. Social animals to the animal in its downward leaps. MC G