INTELLIGENCE OF LOWER ANIMALS. 547 
source of the faculty of Memory, and thus becomes the 
foundation of that power of profiting by experience, which is 
manifested in the actions of animals that are distinguished 
for Intelligence. Such a power is well shown in the following 
instance, related to the Author by an eye-witness. A Wren 
built its nest in the slate-quarries at Penrhyn, in such a 
situation as to be liable to great disturbance from the occa¬ 
sional explosions. It soon, however, learned to quit its nest 
and fly to a little distance, on the ringing of the bell which 
warned the workmen. This action, having been noticed, was 
frequently shown to visitors, the bell being rung when there 
was not to be an explosion; so that the poor bird suffered 
many needless alarms. It seems gradually to have learned, 
however, that the first notion it had formed, by the associa¬ 
tion of the* ringing of the bell with the explosion, was liable 
to exceptions, and to have formed another more correct; for 
it was observed, after a time, that the wren did not leave its 
nest, unless the ringing of the bell was followed by the 
moving-away of the workmen.—A similar process of associa¬ 
tion, carried rather further, but still quite simple enough to be 
readily believed, is shown in two Dogs, which have been 
taught by their master to play at dominoes, and which go 
through the game with another person (under circumstances 
which render the idea of collusion with their master impos¬ 
sible) with the utmost regularity and correctness; not only 
playing rightly themselves, but watching to see that their 
adversary does so too. This, also, is a feat which a very 
young child might be taught to perform.—A third instance 
has reference to the patient endurance of bodily pain, in 
opposition to the instinctive tendency to struggle against the 
infliction of it, and evidently occasioned by a voluntary effort 
on the part of the animal, made by it in obedience to the 
dictates of its reason. Dr. Davy mentions having seen an 
Elephant, in India, that was suffering under a deep abscess in 
its back, which it was necessary to lay open in order to effect 
a cure. “ He was kneeling down, for the convenience of the 
operator, not tied; his keeper was at his head. He did not 
flinch, but rather inclined towards the surgeon, uttering a low 
suppressed groan. He seemed conscious that what was doing 
was intended for his good; no human being could have be¬ 
haved better; and so confident were the natives that he 
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