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Ibave 31311^0 a sense of bumour ? 



By R. H. Clarke, M.A., M.B., M.R.C.S. 



That the more intelligent varieties of birds such 

 as Magpies, Jackdaws, Ravens, etc., are fond of mis- 

 chief is, I think, universally recognised, and of all 

 animals this quality is most highly developed in 

 monkeys, who enjoy the greatest intelligence; but it 

 is common in dogs and possessed, to some extent, by 

 many other animals. 



IvOve of mischief is a very comprehensive and 

 vague term, and may be exhibited in such a variety of 

 ways that they cannot well be ascribed to anything 

 like a common motive, and my enquiry is suggested 

 by a class of actions which are fairly common, and 

 which seem to be prompted by a definite purpose to 

 tease or annoy some individual who is obnoxious to 

 his antagonist, who regards him not merely with dislike 

 but often with fear as well. And the tricks resorted 

 to have a strong family likeness to those which school- 

 boys sometimes play on unpopular masters when they 

 think they can carry them out at no very serious 

 personal risk. No doubt such jokes, in the case of 

 schoolboys at any rate, are prompted by other motives 

 besides a sense of humour ; often they are malicious, 

 or revengeful, and there may be some evidence of 

 similar feelings in animals. But after eliminating 

 those which may be ascribed to such motives there 

 remains a large class of practical jokes which are 

 prompted more by a sense of humour than any strong 

 feeling of hostility, and very often, though they would 

 hardly be called malicious, there is a little flavour of 

 malice thrown in which increases their piquancy and 

 adds to their zest. Apparently we can detect similar 



