ABSTRACT
Mutual help, according to teleological thought, is the underlying purpose of society. Sheep live in flocks because it is wiser for them to do so; a single animal would be defenceless against attack. Even predatory animals sometimes find it necessary to band together. Thus wolves are often reported to hunt alone in the summer, when food is plentiful, and to unite and pour into villages to snatch up defenceless babies in the depths of winter. Although all such superficial interpretation of social behaviour is biologically unsound, and although the statements out of which the concept of mutual co-operation primarily arises are mostly open to question, it is nevertheless necessary to examine the possibility of altruism existing in the actions of animals as social as the sub-human primates. As the anecdotes related in the opening chapter of this book show, the behaviour of sub-human primates is commonly believed to indicate mutual aid. Thus, according to narrative, monkeys press leaves into the wounds of their fellows to stop the blood. In consideration of their dubious origin, tales of this kind may be disregarded. There are, however, other accounts of the assistance afforded each other by monkeys and apes that have received ample corroboration. Stevenson-Hamilton337 relates how he once surprised a large troop of baboons in the bush. All except one scampered off, this animal taking refuge in a tree which was too far separated from neighbouring ones to allow it to leap to safety. Thus marooned, it immediately began calling, whereupon the whole troop came back, running about and barking on the fringe of the bush, about fifty yards away. Although greatly excited they would not leave the shelter of the low trees to cross the open space that separated them from their isolated companion, who was finally captured. When this was done, Stevenson-Hamilton approached the rest of the troop. They began to retreat slowly, but it was not until a big male had been shot that the whole troop fled.*
