Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-08-11

Illinois community, by dlnt ot courage
and combination, killed cat; Ill
which conflict more than dozen
sparrows perlshed. The small Egyp
tlan yultures live in very harmonious
relations, amuse themselves by play ing
in bands in the air; come together al
night; i'll the morning go out i'll ilocks
IN search Of food; which, when found
feast themselves without quarreling.
Among birds OF different species, in
stances are not uncommon wherein
they take flights together in large
ilocks for mere pleasure. Among all
sociable birds the parrots stand at or
near the top notch, longevity also be
ing Characteristic among them.
Mr.. Brehm remarks: Except in the
pairing season, they live in very nu
merous societies or bands. They
choose place in the forest to stay
there, and thence they start every
morning for their hunting expeditions,
The members of each band remain
faithfully attached to each other, and
they share in common good or bad
luck. All together they repair in the
morning to a field. or to garden, or
to tree, to feed upon fruits. They
post sentries to keep watch over the
safety OF the whole band, and are at
tentive to their warnings. In case oi
danger, all take to flight, mutually
supporting each other, and all stimuli
taneously return to their resting place.
In word, they always live closely
united"
In India, jays and crows come to-
gether from great distance to spend
the nights with the parrots, in the
bamboo thickets. Take for instance
the falcon birds, the sociablo species
thrive much better than the robber
falcons, being the more individualistic,
subslst on the poorest food and the
oiial Of that life. On the great steppes
of Russia. observers have noticed that
when single eagle found the carcass
OF dead animal, it called to its COM
rades to share the repast; the old ones
eating first, while the young ones act
ed as sentinels; the older birds having
finished their meal changed places
with the younger ones.
Coming now TO the consideration of
the animal kingdom, we find this i'm
pulse and practice of mutual support
there also active. Prof. Baker states
that 1t is common practice for lions
to hunt in company. Jackals, the
most courageous OF the dog kind, hunt
in packs, having been known by thus
combining to have overpowered bears
and tigers. In civilized countries,
foxes live an isolated life, but have
been known to combine on hunting
expeditions. The sociable qualities are
strong among the different families of
beavers; they build great dams; live
and die in villages. In Siberia and
the Hudson Bay country of North
America, when food is scarce, the old
beavers emigrate down stream and
the young ones 60 in the opposite di-
rection, returning to their habitations
at the close of the season or at certain
definite periods. In that manner they
avoid competition for the means OF
subsistence.
1t is true that among the highest OF
the ape species, the orang.outang aud
gorilla, are unsociable; are confined to
small areas, viz: the interior of At
rico, the islands of Borneo and Sum.
matra. There is abundant evidence
leading the student Of nature to con-
clude that those animals are the REM
nants of a once more numerous spec.
les, that the unsociable instincts man
ifest in them show they are gradually
becoming extinct. Many OF the high
er types of the ape species live in SO.
cieties, build habitations, gather food
and hunt in common. The males 60
out to battle, and on the retreat act as
a rear guard. We do not deny but
that at times there are fierce conflicts
among the individuals of the same
species; but such is the exception,
not the general rule.
AS we ascend in the scale of being,
association, whether reasoned or in
slinctive, seems to become more and
more conscious. If we agree with
Darwin and Wallace, that strength,
swiftness, protective colors. physical
endurance and cunning practices give
certain individuals or species an inn
mense advantage, under certain con-
ditions in the struggle for existenence,
still, the conclusion is almost irresisti-
BILE that ordinarily sociability gives
the individual and species which com.
bine the greater advantage in such
struggle, though they may not be up
to the standard OF the others in the
qualities as stated by the above au-
thors, except in the matter OF intel.
lectuality. If each individual were
continuously to abuse its privileg es
without interference from the other
members OF the group or society, So
ciable life among insects, birds and
animals would be impossible. With
out regard TO the distance from which
cranes and sparrOws come at each re-
curing season, each returns to the
nest it had constructed the previous
year. Prairie dogs inhabiting the
plains of Nebraska and the OAK kotas
live in villages, take care of their
wounded comrades, drag them into
their holes, beyond the reach OF the
huntsman.
Proceeding now to the considera-
ton of the postulate of mutual as
sistance and its prevailing tendency
and activity among all races of men,
We will first take few illustrations
from primitive types, and trace down
the analogy which more plainly ap'
pears in the higher development OF
mankind. Travellers and historians
have given many instances OF the
sociability and mutual kindness among
individuals OF the Hottentot tribes. ii
anything is bestowed upon a Hotten'
tot, he shares it with those present
dislikes 10 eat alone no matter how
hungry he may be, calls upon those
within hearing to share his food. In
order to preserve the good will Of the
members of his tribe, if he is out
alone in the forest, desiring to partake
of his scanty meal, he will first cal
out in loud voice before tasting any
OF his food, hoping he may bring SOME
hungry individual of his tribe to III:
presence, with whom he may share hi