MAN IN RELATION TO THE LOWER ANIMALS. 753 



in its degree, quite analogous to the work of a human architect. 

 " The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests." How 

 does the fox get its hole, or the bird its nest ? They make them 

 for their purposes, and this is certainly control over nature to 

 that extent. How does the fox support his family if he has no 

 control over nature ? Do hens and chickens run into his hole 

 and ask to be eaten ? Dr. Hopkins does not seem ever to have 

 heard of the way in which a tribe of monkeys prepare to rob a 

 corn-field. Let us describe it. When they get ready to start on 

 their expedition, an old monkey, the leader of the tribe, with a 

 staff in his hand, so as to stand upright more easily, marches 

 ahead on two legs, thus being more elevated than the others, so 

 as to see signs of danger more readily. The rest follow him on 

 all-fours. The leader advances slowly and cautiously, carefully 

 reconnoitring in all directions, till the party arrives at the corn- 

 field. He then assigns the sentinels to their respective posts. All 

 being now in readiness, the rest of the tribe ravage and eat to 

 their hearts' content. When they retire, each one carries two or 

 three ears of corn along, and from this provision the sentinels 

 are regaled on arrival at their lair. Here we see ability to rule 

 and a willingness to submit to rule ; a thoughtful preparation of 

 means to the end in view ; and a recognition of the rights of the 

 sentinels to be suitably rewarded at the close of the expedition. 

 Wherein does all this differ from a similar foray of a tribe of sav- 

 age men ? The only difference is in degree ; otherwise, it is much 

 the same. Dr. Hopkins's proposition that animals are not pos- 

 sessed of consciousness is mere assertion. He offers no proof 

 whatever. A dog appears to be perfectly conscious of his exist- 

 ence. All his actions are in entire accordance with that view of 

 his activity. Give him a bone, and he seems to be conscious of his 

 rights, too, and is ready to defend them. Observe a dog of one or 

 two years of age, and a child of four or five years, playing together ; 

 they understand each other perfectly well, and seem to get equal 

 pleasure out of the sport. Their consciousness of existence is 

 about the same. When the dog gets older, and accompanies his 

 master to hunt, he understands his duties, and performs them 

 about as well as the man performs his share. The dog hunts as 

 truly as the man ; takes a lively interest in all the proceedings ; 

 is joyous over success, and cast down in case of failure. To deny 

 consciousness to such a being is absurd. It is quite true that the 

 dog has not studied the Cartesian system of philosophy, and can 

 not say to himself, cogito, ergo sum ; but, neither can the boy who 

 plays with him, nor, probably, the man who hunts with him. A 

 power of analysis and metaphysical introspection is not possessed 

 by young persons ; nor, generally, by uncultivated men. They 

 live in the present. They are satisfied with a consciousness of 



VOL. XXXIII. — 48 



