REASONING ANIMALS. 71 



REASONING ANIMALS. 



By ALLEN PEINGLE. 



THE question as to whether animals reason or not is a disputed 

 one. For myself I am convinced that they do, and with more 

 logic sometimes than some of the genus homo. The notion that 

 what we observe as mind in animals is all instinct and no reason 

 ought to have taken its departure with the discovery that the ani- 

 mal had a brain and nervous system quite similar to that of man, 

 and subject to the same general mental and physiological laws. 

 The truth is, man has both reason and instinct, and so has the ani- 

 mal. Instinct acts spontaneously without thought, while reason 

 reflects and adapts means to ends. When we wink with lightning 

 rapidity to protect the eye from something flying into it, or when 

 we start back in fright from a sudden and threatened danger, we 

 act instinctively ; the animal does the same. On the other hand, 

 when we act from reflection and adapt means to ends, we exercise 

 reason ; the animal does the same thing. In our daily contact 

 with our domesticated animals we find ample proof of this. I 

 mention the horse, the cow, the dog, and the honey-bee, not be- 

 cause they are the only animals that reason, but because most peo- 

 ple are specially interested in these domestic animals, and are 

 familiar with their characters and habits. Many other animals 

 exhibit a high degree of intelligence. 



A most remarkable case of bovine intelligence which recently 

 came to my knowledge, and for the truth of which I can vouch, 

 has prompted the writing of this paper. A cow and steer — the 

 latter two to three years old — were the only occupants of the barn- 

 yard where the occurrence took place. A baiting of hay was put 

 out to them, the cow taking possession. The steer wished to share 

 it; but the cow, like some higher animals, was selfish and was bent 

 on taking the whole of' it, and as often as he would manoeuvre 

 around from side to side to get a bite she would drive him off at 

 the point of her horn. The steer was so persistent that at last the 

 old cow's patience gave way, and making a determined and vicious 

 charge on him, punished him severely, though he was her own off- 

 spring. The steer felt badly hurt, not only in body but evidently 

 in mind as well, and immediately started out of the yard and off 

 down the lane toward the pasture where were the rest of the stock, 

 bellowing vengeance at every step in a language which was un- 

 mistakable to the bystander and which the mother well under- 

 stood, as she ceased eating and listened intently to the threaten- 

 ings of what was to come. "When these died away in the distance 

 she resumed her ration, but with evident apprehension. In due 

 time the steer was seen returning, bringing with him a companion 



