238 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Movements are developed sooner in the rabbit and more rapidly 
become of the kind characteristic of the animal group than in the dog or 
cat. 
The very early date (second day) on which scratching was observed 
illustrates the rapidity with which co-ordinated movements reach a con- 
siderable degree of complexity. 
The very early date at which jerky movements are manifest and which 
are later represented by that rapid scurrying towards a burrow, etc., is 
noteworthy. Few animals equal the rabbit in this, and the early develop- 
ment of these movements affords another instance of what seems to be a 
general law—that those capahilities which are most important in the life 
of the creature appear early—at all events as regards qualities essential 
to the maintenance of existence. 
It will be observed that by the seventh day taste and smell are well 
developed, and the movements of the fore-limbs, as in brushing the mouth, 
excellently co-ordinated. 
Hearing and vision do not seem to be developed much sooner than in 
the cat or dog, but hearing especially, as in these creatures, reaches per- 
fection rapidly. 
In spontaneous attempts at eating the rabbit is very much in advance 
of the dog and cat. 
There are very decided physical changes accompanying the psychic 
ones, many of which have been noted in the diary. 
REMARKS ON THE L DE JAVY (GUINEA-PIG). THE RABBIT 
REMARI HE Diary or THE Cavy (GUINEA-PI ii 
AND THE CAVY COMPARED. 
The cavy shows so clearly soon after birth that it sees, hears, smells, 
tastes, etc., that it would be hazardous to assert that these functions do 
not exist at birth. 
However, | think very close observation convinces one that they all 
require appropriate stimuli to develop them. That is to say, a cavy does 
not see, smell or taste as well during the first hour of its life as it does a 
few hours later, and marked as is the progress there is a real development, 
though the steps towards perfection are rapidly taken. 
The contrast with the rabbit—not to mention the dog and the cat — 
in the condition at birth and the extreme rapidity with which perfection 
in all respects is attained is striking in the highest degree. 
During the first five or six days of life the rabbit and the cavy are 
wide apart, though they both belong to the same great animal group. 
After a month the psychic differences are sheht, and at maturity they 
are physically much alike, though the rabbit is probably somewhat higher 
in the scale. 
In the one case the development of body correlated with a certain 
psy chic status and some peculiarities takes place im utero, in the other case 
