The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-03-19
7HURSDAY MORNING. MARCH 19, 1891.
THE FIGHTING INSTINCT.
The Earth One Great Battle Ground
Whero tho Fittest Only Survive.

THE FIGHTING INSTINCT.
The Earth One Great Battle Ground
Whero tho Fittest Only Survive.
The student of nature is generally, if
not universally, supposed to be very in
carnation of peace, and well.developed
organ of combativeness is considered de.
cidedly out of place in happy Arcade.
Nevertheless, the earth is one vast
battle ground where all things living
struggle for "the survival of the fttest"
that great ard inexorable law, from
the influence of which even the proud
race of man is not exempt. Among the
beasts of the field the law of force pre-.
walls. The finest specimens of each class
survive, and the weaker 60 to the wall,
or, perchance, the stomachs of their
stronger brethren.
I think the Rev. j. G. Wood was the
first to draw attention to the extraordina.
ry fighting capabilities of moles. These
clumsy, and apparently almost blind,
masses of fur and sinew can occasionally
become 6ends incarnate, veritable subter.
ranean tigers; and with such energy do
they attack each other that, utterly ig-
noriug the presence of man, they will
rough-and. tumble at his very feet, their
enormously muscular little limbs work.
ing convulsively, and bones audibly
cracking beneath the pressure of their
jaws. No one who has not witnessed
tourney Of this nature would credit
the extraordinary activity and fury which
are here displayed, for, anless they are
forcibly parted, the battle seldom leaves
both combatants in the land of the liv-
ing.
Hedgehogs are occasionally cannibslis-
tic, the larger ones, when hard up for a
dinner, chasing the smaller at wonder.
full rate, and devoaring them, without
sauce or mercy, when caught and con-
quered. Curiously enough, the vanquish.
ed animal seldom employs against its
own species its strongest means ofdefense
rolling itself up into the well known
ball FORM.
a fight between two hares is droll
sight, appearing much like jumping
match, the skipping exercise being Kept
up with tremendous energy and spirit !;
but blow from the leg of a hare is no
laughing matter for the recipient, who
occasionally finds himself knocked out of
the world altogether.
The representatives of the order
Mustslide are hard fighters, for friend
of mine once witnessed duel between
an old gray rat and weasel, which
lasted nearly an hour, and resulted in
the annihilation of the former. The rat
fought with great pluck and determine
ton, but his antagonist was too much
for him, and drew blood at every bite !;
while the rat, which displayed the utmost
activity, rushing on again and again,
failed to make much impression on the
tough hide of the weasel. The latter
fought in very undemonstrative man
ner, appearing to act mostly upon the
defensive; but his sharp teeth played
havoc with the firm body of the rat,
which finally retreated into bundle Of
fagots, followed by the weasel. A
great deal of scufling and squeaking
ensued, after which the rat was driven
out into the open and there killed.
| Among the Galinacee, the pheasant
may be considered "cock of the roost,"
for be will boldly enter the farm yard
and settle the military looking barn-door
fowl in trice.
Perhaps none, among smaller birds,
wage war more desperately than the
domesticated robin. 1t is said that he is
guilty ofparricide, the young ones chas.
ing and Staying the parent before twelve
months have passed over their youthful
heads. Their first plumage is brown,
but afterward red-perhaps Cain mark,
to distinguish them for their evil deeds.
They follow up their battles with great
pertinacity, and SO frantic and lost to all
sense Of outer danger do they become,
that, on two occasions, have picked
them up and held them in my hand,
where they lay painting, but still holding
on to each other with bills and talons.
Once, two of these tiny gladiators fell
from a tres under which WAS discussing
the good fare of picnic, and, utterly
ignoring the situation, finished the argu-
ment in my lap.
An invalid friend Of mine, who is a
close observer of nature, has recollec-
ton of two cats, which advanced daily
from opposite ends of q long and lofty
wall, and, meeting in the middle, fought
with great fury, until one or both were
precipitated to the ground below, upon
which the fight ceased Immediately,
the combatants remounting the wall, and
basking peacefully side by side in the
sunshine.
| On one occasion, lately, particularly
fine Newfoundland dog was sitting on 8
wooden bridge discussing bone, when 8
predatory mastiff came along, and, being
unable or unwilling to distinguish
between meum and tuum, smart alter.
cation arose. So violent became the de-
bate, that both suddenly over. balanced
and fell into the stream beneath. The
nearest landing place was hundred
yards down, and to it the Newfoundland
betook himself without much difficulty,
n ,.oa,1 ~ ro,