Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-10
TEMPER OF ANNALS.
CREATURES ARE, AS a RULE, MUCH
MORE AMIABLE THAN MEN.

Deer Fight more EIerceiy Than Wolves,
Strange to Say. and Tame Stag Has
Eeen kncwn to Kill Boy-Zebras and
wild Asses Are Rather Dangerous
The old theory that animal good temper
might be accounted for on the ground that
animals are sensible of pleasure and pain,
out not of advantage and disadvantage,
was only half truth, for animals are sub
5ect 10 jealousy and jealousy is the direct
result Of a feeling OF personal disadvan-
tage. But ii draws attention to the fact
that occasions for disagreement in the case
of most animals are rare and unusual.
Questions Of domiciie are almost the sole
ground OF discord in the animal world.
with the exception OF the fierce dissensions
raised ut pairing time, and even in the last
ease combat is only general in the case of
polygamous animals.
Deer fight more ferccly than wolves and
wild sheep than lions; aud though there is
or was an eagle in the 100 which was
caught locked in the talons of another
eagle when fighting in the spring, the
dercest birds are usually friendly with
their own species and while rufTs and
black game fight like gladiators for their
wives. the eagles and the peregrines as a
rule, mate in peace. Proximity. the sever
est trial to human temper, seldom ruffies
the animal mind. and different species live
m harmony together each seeming, as in
abe case of owls and the prairie dogs or
rocks and starlings, rather to prefer than
shun the society of the other.
The choicest spots for homes are natu-
rally the source of warfare among birds,
and other animals frequently fight for the
possession of some favorte breeding place
Badgers and foxes which have shared the
same earth during winter often fight for
s0le possession in the spring, when the fox
E1yariabiy wins, n result which would
hardly be expected from the relative ply
Esque of the two animals. But such quar-
5els are only for the sake of rearing their
young, not for selfish reasons; and even
zpprehended pressure on the food supply
rarely eXcites i'll will, except in the case of
abe largest carnivorous birds and animals.
which require a wider range for hunting
and drive their young TO other districts.
ANIMAL TEMPER PACIFIC.
The rodents and ruminants are less ieal-
COS, and Jhat strong social and gregariOus
Instinct which the existence of i'll temper
Is a permanent characteristic would in
SUITABLY destroy keeps them together in
peace and harmony. They love society,
znd not the least marked difference be
men is that animals do not by mere CON /
s1ct irritate each other-a positive and not
Znimportant compensation for the absence
NJ the gift of speech.
Since occasions OF difference are so few,
nothing but the assumption OF an ancient
Ind inbred malignity in animal minds,
snch ~ the author of Three Men in a
Boat supposcs in the case of fox terriers
10 have been due to double dose of origi-
nal sin, could Justify the view so generally
Aeid that animals are as rule ferocious
and i'll tempered, notion summed up in
Mr. Burnand's conclusions i'll Happy
Thoughts that most of the creatures
with which he came in contact in the
country were, when not dangerous, al
7says very uncertain" The exact contrary
would be nearer the truth.
Animal temper is naturally pacific,
squable and mild. Bad temper is the
privilege Of more highly organized ma
cures; and the mild resentment of the pla-
cable tiger finds its development in the
zPoplectic fury of the mandTil and the
measured malice of mankind. Horace's
suggestion that Prometheus added to the
nj temper of man the strength of a mad
bon must he taken literally.
SOME SAVAGE CREATURES
The general law of good nature in the
animal world makes the exceptions all the
more remarkable Quarrelsome species
appear among friendly tribe, Just as an
III tempered individual does in a kindly
species. The ruminants are a most peace
full race, yet deer are savage and so is that
handsome Indian antelope, the nvlghau.
A tame stag is "a very dangerous pet, and
even the beautiful roebuck has been
known to Kill a boy in wild fit of rage
But the fiercesJ and most vindictive of ALL
with the exception of the Cape buffalo, is
the South African gnu which never loses
It's i'll temper when tanned. and always re-
mains among the few dangerous animals
which the keepers at the Zoo have to deal
with. Hardly less i'll tempered are the
8ebras and the wild asses, which suggest
chat human ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is not entire
~ TO blame for the occasional i'll temper
and obstinacy of mules and donkeys.
To the i'll tempered species we may add
khe camel and the two horned black
Thinoceros. The last il really ferocious,
charging down on any creature man or
beast, without prOvocatiOn, and capable of
infiicting mortal wounds even on the lion,
khe elephant or its own kind. But among
MI the larger creatures of the animal king
dom it is difficult to find more than a
aozen species which are, Us a class, i'll tenn
pered, unless we include all those car
aiyorous animals which exhibit certain
Eerocity in the capture of their prey.-Lon-
don Spectator
Pzmpcrcd i'm the Governments Service.
70 illustrate the difficulties which attend
Kclaim against the government may be