The Scottish Naturalist. 59 



It was thought advisable, therefore, that 'Tiger' should no 

 longer be allowed to sleep upon the parlour sofas, but should 

 rest himself upon the tarpets instead. He understood our wishes 

 perfectly, and for more than a year he was never known to have 

 mounted the forbidden spots. Entering the parlour one morn- 

 ing, I found him crouched upon a sofa. Surprised upon seeing 

 him there, I sharply cried out, 'Tiger! what do you mean?' 

 He at once slowly opened his eyes, and, very carefully moving 

 from the sofa, stood upon three legs, holding up the other for me 

 to examine. Looking at the foot, I found a small nail or brad 

 deeply embedded in its fleshy portion. Not being able to 

 remove it with my hand, I muzzled him, and assisted by my 

 son, was able, with considerable force, to withdraw it with a pair 

 of forceps. He immediately put his foot to the carpet, and 

 after trying it a few moments, and satisfying himself that he was 

 relieved, his gratitude was unbounded. He leaped upon my 

 shoulders, licked my face, and seemed delirious with joy. 

 Could any human being have acted more intelligently to attract 

 attention ? Did not his actions — much more than any words 

 could — convey his sense of 'obligation ?" 



Interesting as this incident is, it is far from being so excep- 

 tional as it may appear. It is, in fact, only one of many 

 incidents of a similar kind, of which I have notes, illustrative 

 of the fact that certain animals, in their distress, seek surgical 

 or medical aid from man ; and deriving benefit from his assist- 

 ance, they display their gratitude in the only way in which they 

 can show their sense of benefit. 



In July 1 87 1, Dr. Brown of Rochester, Kent, wrote me: — 

 "J have just read your article in the ' British and Foreign 

 Medico -Chirurgical Review' for July (on 'Insanity in the 

 Lower animals.') I am much pleased with it. I have long 

 advocated the possession of Mind by the Lower animals. I 

 will give you a case of Suicide by a Dog, occuring at Upnor, 

 near Rochester. The dog had been given away. It returned 

 and was sent off again. Next morning it came to the house 

 and was again driven off. This broke the dog's heart ; for the 

 animal immediately went to the river side, and entering the 



water held his head under until drowned If you 



try to kill a cock-roach on a stair-case, the judgment displayed 



by the insect is thoroughly human Those that 



deny Reason to Insects because of the want of a Cerebrum proper, 

 forget that nervous matter, before it is much differentiated into 



