476 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



up on his haunches and began to howl. If the tune which called 

 forth such emotions had been written on a very high key, or char- 

 acterized by shrill tones or harsh dissonances, the conduct of the 

 dog might be easily explained. But such was not the case. There 

 was nothing in this piece more than in any other, so far as any 

 one could observe, that ought to grate the canine ear. Many in- 

 cidents of this kind might be cited to prove that even dogs are 

 not indifferent to musical compositions, and show a nice discrimi- 

 nation between them, having their likes and dislikes, as well as 

 human beings. 



The fertilization and propagation of many plants depend upon 

 the existence of a sense of color in insects, and the exercise of 

 choice in the selection of flowers. This preference implies a 

 pleasure in certain hues, and consequently the possession of a 

 rudimentary perception of beauty. Plants whose fecundation 

 depends upon the action of the wind do not develop such a variety 

 of colors as those in which this depends upon the agency of in- 

 sects. Nature can trust her ill-favored daughters to the wooing 

 of the wind, but if she wishes to attract a nicer class of suitors 

 she must endow her children with brilliant qualities. 



The power of distinguishing between colors has been denied 

 not only to the lower animals, but also to the lower races of man- 

 kind. But a more extended and accurate knowledge shows that 

 the conclusion is incorrect in both cases. We know that the 

 American aborigines discriminate between the seven primary 

 colors, and it is absurd to infer that this faculty was wanting to 

 the Homeric men merely because we do not find all these colors 

 mentioned in the Homeric poems. It has also been asserted that 

 the ancient Assyrians could not distinguish green from blue or 

 yellow, because no word was found for it in the. remains of their 

 language. But the tiles discovered at Nineveh prove that they 

 had a very clear conception and aesthetic appreciation of the dis- 

 tinction between yellow, green, and blue, and probably did not 

 confound any colors of the solar spectrum. The evidence of lan- 

 guage on this point is purely negative and necessarily defective. 



Even the religious sentiment, which has been assumed to be 

 the peculiar possession of man, is faintly foreshadowed in the 

 lower animals. The unanimity of opinion among those who have 

 made the most careful study of this subject, and whose views are 

 therefore entitled to the greatest consideration, is quite remark- 

 able. M. A. de Quatrefages, in his Rapport sur le Progres de 

 V Anthropologic (Paris, 1867, p. 85), maintains that " domestic ani- 

 mals are religious, since they readily obey those who appeal to 

 them with the rod or with sugar." In other words, they are 

 amenable to rewards and punishments, doing the will and seeking 

 to win the favor of superior beings, on whom they are dependent, 



