, 1886-02-09
ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE.
AN AUTHOR WHO HAS GIVEN TlII
SUBJECT MUCH ATTENTION.


A great deal has been written TO show
that animals think and reason, just a5
man does, though in n lower degree, Per
haps some on our readers may notice
things in animals which show that they
have a great deal of intelligence, ever II
they do not reason. Mr.. Paul BroccA, tho
French author, devoted much attention to
this subject. It has been said of animals,
writes Mr.. Brocoa, that their actions arc
always mechanical and without method.
This may be true OF domestic pets, who
are influenced almost entirely by the hu-
man beings around them, but does not
the beaver change his plans, acting now
as buildsr, now as miner, according to
circumstances Besides this, every ono
knows that the bee frequently substitutes
pentagorkl, or fiye-sided, for %hexagonal,
or six-sidcd cells, and that this alteration
In the work Is made only when necessary.
III IoG OF A UNITING DOG.
1t has also been said that animals do not
reason. What then is lone by the foxes,
which in Thrace, are driven on to the leo
to test its strength These animals step
carefully and lightly, with their heads in
clined, and turn back suddenly, directly
they discover by the sound Of tho leo
cracking, that 1t is not safe to proceed
farther. A dog, which, N following q
scent, arrives at n cross-road Is seen to
stop, consider n moAent, hen plung
along one of the roads, shifting cautiously,
turn back and try another road in tho
same manner, and finally dart unhesitat-
ingly down the third. 1t is evident that
his logic tells him that as his prey has not
taken one of the first two roads Examined,
1t must necessarily nave taken the third
road, so he does not waste time in further
investigation. That this IS not
mere instinct is shown by the fact
that a dog sometimes makes a mistake in
such a case, and that when the fact be
comes evident, he sinks out, Of sight of
the hunters, looking n picture of shame
and humiliation.
Foresight Is n quality the possession OF
which no one will deny 10 ants and bees,
and the former certainly have n sense of
compassion. This Is displayed in the ten
der care bestowed on tho wounded during
the terrible battles fought between differ
ent tribes Of ants. Thu suffering and kelp-
less ones are not left TO perish, but are
carried Off the battlefield by q regular
Ambulance corps No ono doubts the
existence of memory in animals, and as to
ambition, 1t is necessary to recount tho
pitched battles which take place in bee
hives between the different candidates for
royaltyi
SOME MEAN OF COMMUNICATIONS.
How can one pretend that man only has
the gift OF %languagel He must be blind
indeed who does not see that all animals
have some means Of communicated with
each other. To give only one example:
there is no possible doubt that ants make
themselves understood by their fellows,
by mean Of the touch OF their delicate,
sensitive antennm or feelers. Before n
war, n council is held. and messengers
hurry about. Scouts or spies are sent out
out, and the attack is hnstened or post
poned, according to their reports. All this
could not be done without a very com
plete method Of communication, for the
giving and receiving of orders, etc.
Moreover, II animals had nc Language,
how could they teach their youngt
That they do teach them is evident from
the fac Of young foxes in countries whore
the animals are hunted, being infinitely
more wary han full-grown ones in other
landsl How else are we TO account for
this than by saying that the parent foxes
tell their children Of danger, and to avoid
it.-American Agriculturist.