BRAIN V. MUSCLE IN NATURE 175 



How is it, then, seeing the enormous advantage in the 

 struggle for existence which the possessor of a large 

 brain enjoys, that natural selection has not developed 

 more clever animals with large brains ? How is it that 

 all existing species are not as cunning as the proverbial 

 serpent? Why is the average animal so lacking in 

 intellect ? 



It is hardly necessary for me to adduce proof of this 

 deficiency of brain-power among animals. Even Mark 

 Twain noticed it ; that humorist does not think much 

 of the wit of an ant ! 



A pair of swifts once selected as the site for their nest 

 the gateway of one of the colleges at Oxford. This 

 was against regulations. So the college porter removed 

 the nest. 



The birds immediately began to build another on the 

 identical site. This was also ruthlessly destroyed. The 

 birds, with greater perseverance than intelligence, tried 

 to construct a third nest in the same place. This was 

 not obstinacy on the part of the swifts. They were 

 unable to put two and two together ; their brain-power 

 was insufficient to enable them to understand that man 

 objected to their nest being built on that particular 

 site. 



A dog is supposed to be an intelligent animal, but it 

 will run away from a stuffed bear. An elephant, who is 

 the wise man among animals, will actually pick up its 

 own goad and hand it to the mahout ! 



But why multiply instances showing the limited 

 brain-power of animals ? Dozens of examples will 

 occur to every one of my readers. It must not be 



