The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-18
SOME NEW BOOKS
No Nee A.i~sis Resss. Z


engaged. has been prosecuted far enough to
admit OF tho publlcationsof preliminary vol
ume which forms the latest number OF Apple
toms International Scientific Series" Tho
materials collected proved Incapable OF CON-
donsation within tho limits OF o single
volume. and we now have. accordingly
mas OF carefully wnnowed. veri-
fled and classified data. the deductions
from which are reserved for o later
book. 1t Ia already rendered evident. however.
by occasional hints. as we'll as by the inferences
which must suggest themselves to the most
inadvertent and prejudiced reader. that tho
author believes himself. not without ample
cause. to have completely brldged the sup
posed gap between instinct and reason by tho
authentic proofs here marshalled OF remarka-
ble intelligence in some OF the higher animals.
II Is the seemingly conclusive evidence OF
reasoning powers furnished by the adaptation
of means to ends In cases which cannot be ex-
planned on tho theory OF inherited aptitude or
habit to which we shall at this time advert.
One word OF preface rs to the principles by
which tho present inquirer has been guided in
tho selection and Arrangement Of facts He has
made It, IA far Us possible. a rule to accept only
data resting on tho authority OF observers
known to be scientifically competent. But for
obvious reasons tho rigorous application OF
this rule Ia impracticable. where one Of the
intelligence reached by this or that order or
species Of tho animal world. 1t is plain enough
that the chances must always be greatly
against tho more intelligent individuals among
animals happening to fall under tho eye
Of the few suitably qualified investigators
With regard therefore. to the important
class OF facts for which recourse must be had
to witnesses not specially equipped and
trained. DIR. Romanes has adopted the follow
ing method OF eliminating error: He has re-
fused to accept any alleged fact without tho
authority OF some name Moreover. In the
event OF name being unknown to him. while
tho asserted fact was at the same time OF sum-
Gent moment to be entertained. he has care
fully considered whether. In view OF all the cir
Humstances the case as recorded. there
seemed to % any room for malobservation.
He has. further. been at the pains to tabulate
all important phenomena reported by unknown
observers. with the object OF ascertainng
whether they have ever been corroborated by
similar or analogous observations made by
other and independent observers.
We cannot better illustrate the application Of
these cautious and sound principles than by
showing how DR.. Romanes deals with the not
able indication OF high Intelligence resented
in the alleged custom of certain cats to attract
birds by scattering crumbs upon the ground
An anecdote bearing ON this point and commu-
nicated to Nature by DR.. Frost. is cited by
tho author. although 1t ov!nces an almost In
credible amount of.far- sighted stratagem. be-
cause on tho one hand. he cannot see much room
for ma'obscryation. and because. on the other.
he has found 1t corroborated to some extent by
the independent observation. both OF another
correspondent and OF his friend DR.. Klein. whom
no knows to be thoroughly competent
naturalist. DIR. Frosts story as follows
Our servants have been accustomed during
tho ate frost to throw the crumbs remaining
from tho breakfast table to tho birds. and l
have several times noticed that our cat used to
wait there In ambush in the expectation OF OBJ
tanning a hearty meal from one or two OF the
assembled birds. Now. so far this circum-
stance in Itself is not an example OF abstract
reasoning. But to continue: For the last few
days this practice OF feeding the birds has
bsen left of The cat. however. with an
almost incredible amount OF forethought.
was observed by myself together with
two other members Of the household to
scatter crumbs on the grass with the
obvious intention OF enticlng the birds" A
somewhat similar incident is recounted by an
other OF tho authors correspondents: During
tho recent severe winter friend was In the
habit OF throwing crumbs outside Of his bed
room window. Tho family have a fno black
cat. which. seeing that tho crumbs brought
Birds would occasionally hide herself behi ind
some shrubs and when the birds came for their
breakfast would pounce out upon them, with
varying success. The crumbs had been laid
out as usual ono afternoon. but left untouched.
and during the night q slight fall OF snow &C.
cured. On looking out next morning my
friend observed. puss busily engaged
in scratching away the snow Curl
GUS to learn what she sought. he
waited and saw her take the crumbs up
from tho cleared space and lay them one after
another OH the snow. After doing this she re-
turned behind the shrubs to await further de-
veiopments. This was repeated on two other
occasions" Now. We learn from Dr. Klein
that the cat which he watched had also indis-
putably established definite association be-
tween crumbs already sprinkled on the garden
walk and sDarrows coming to cat thom; for as
soon as the crumbs we're thrown upon the:walk
the cat used to conceal himself in neighbor-
ingi shrubbery. there to await In ambush tho
coming OF the birds. In this instance the rea.
soning observation Of the animal" crumbs at
tract BIRDS therefore will lie In wait for birds
when crumbs are scattered"-was rs complete
rs In the first stage OF the feline pro ceedings
recorded by Dr. Frost. but the reasoning
in the latter case seems to have proceeded
stop further" therefore will scatter crumbs
to attract birds" We see. however. that.
taking the three observations together We
have an ascending series in the grades OF intel
lgence from that displayed by DIR. Klelns cat.
which merely noted that bits Of bread enticed
birds. through that OF the cat which exposed
tho concealed crumbs for tho purpose OF allur-
ing Its prey. to that Of DR.. Frosts cat which
actually sprinkled the crumbs. Had tho last
mentioned and most extraordinary incident
stood alone. the author would not he tells us.
have felt warranted in recounting it: but as he
found 1t thus led up TO by additional and inde-
pendent records he did not feel that he would
be justified In suppressing it.
From this example Of the plan followed In
verifying evidence. the reader will perceive
with how much confidence he may receive the
interesting and often marvellous Indications
OF animal intelligence given in this volume
We will proceed to outline somewhat moro dis
tinctly the basis Of fact prepared for the au-
,hors future deductions by some extracts from