Show ALTRUISM IN ANIMALS gome boma show friendly and unselfish DiEl cult to Under understand A french scientist has lately written nn en interesting paper on altruism in animals arriving at the startling conclusion that animals aro are perli perhaps aps better christians than men he saya animal societies are less lesa polished but perhaps more humane all things being I 1 equal than our own and gives devoral instances of animal species made use of by another and performing services for the latter without receiving anything in exchange among others is mentioned tha caso of the crocodile 10 lo and tho the bird on tho the banks of tho the nile this bird performs two services for the crocodile it enters into its mouth and dispatches there the worms and leeches which trouble the crocodile it flies rapidly rapid away giving vent to a peculiar cry when the ichneumon the enemy of the crocodile approaches thus apprising its iti companion of the ichneumons presence in return the crocodile shakes its tail whenever it wishes to close its mouth thus giving the bird warning tho the crocodile in no wise recompenses but contents itself simply with respecting the person of the little animal the service rendered is unilateral but it is aas easy Y 1 to 0 understand that by the exercise of 1 extremely 1 little intelligence if not unconsciously he be crocodile may be led to defend its sometimes one animal will borrow the services of another temporarily na in the case of the serpent who is ferried across a river by a duck or as frequently seen several animals assi assist st one another in crossing streams a ms of water in lifting largo large stones in moving the trunks of trees in constructing dams in hunting or in mutual defense aphids who have the power of secreting an abdominal fluid of which ants anta are passionately fond are kept by the ants ante in stables like milk cows and carefully watched chicago news |