17 FEBRUARY 1933, Page 13

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ANIMAL FRIENDSHIPS.

SORID very quaint examples of friendships between different animals—a jackdaw and a donkey, a lamb and a dog, a parrot and a cat—are collected in the Scottish travel magazine, S.M.T.

Such queer associations are perhaps more common than is usually thought. I have known of a rook and cat and several cat and dog associations. A friendship that is causing some trouble at the moment in a farmer's household has been cemented between a sheep-dog and a small child recently adopted. The dog at once grew so fond of the child that he is with difficulty persuaded to leave him ; and, worse than this, is so jealously protective that he snarls at those who have the hardihood to approach the child without his leave. I believe that one reason for the alleged savagery of the Alsatian is its intense affection for its master and hence its hostility to the

rest of the world.