How far animals are conscious of fear, and where the instinct of
self-preservation merges into fear, are questions not easily to be
solved. A hare appears to be among the most timid of creatures, making
off with speed at the slightest alarm--yet confidence in her own power
to escape danger may drive all real fear from her heart. Instincts of
fury, bravery and fear are nearly related.
There is a common idea that wild animals have an inborn fear of man.
But it seems probable that where fear of man is marked it has been
impressed upon the animals by example of parents, or experience. Fear,
or at least a strong suspicion of what is unknown and strange, is
evident among creatures of uninhabited places, though wild-fowl on
waters visited by man for the first time may take no notice of a boat
that sails through their flocks.
Flight is usually the first instinct of self-preservation. The zigzag
start of a flight is cultivated by many besides snipe and woodcock--by
hares, which bound from side to side of their line, and double back
with a wonderful turn, when hard pressed; by deer pursued by wolves; by
stoats when danger threatens; or by the rabbit nearly taken unawares by
the spring of a cat or dog. But often a wild animal, surprised, will
pause for a moment to snort or grunt, and strike the ground angrily
with a fore-foot before making off--a stag for example. A stamp is
a common signal or sign of annoyance, curiosity or danger. Both the
weasel and the squirrel stamp impatiently with their front feet on
occasions--as when they seem divided between curiosity and alarm at the
presence of a motionless man. The stamp suggests an attempt to discover
whether the man is friendly or hostile, alive and capable of action, or
paralysed. The alarm signal given by rabbits, by striking the ground
with their hind feet, produces a thumping noise, no doubt to be heard
for a great distance underground. So far as danger from man goes, it
is usually anticipated before it becomes pressing. Walk along a hedge
within a yard of a partridge on her nest, or a leveret in its form,
and no notice may be taken so long as you keep on walking. But stop,
or even hesitate in your stride--the partridge or the leveret goes on
the instant. Wary rooks will feed within a few yards of a man hoeing in
a field--but let him stop his work, and take a look at them, and they
wait for no stronger hint of danger.
* * * * *