[mizis] PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ANIMALS 239 
after birth, and that this contrast should be manifest among creatures in 
many respects so closely allied, both physically and psychically, is 
especially instructive. 
Some excellent observations on the cavy will be found in Professor 
Preyer’s “ The Mind of the Child.” 
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 
The investigations on the rabbit and the cavy illustrate sharp con- 
trasts at birth and for some time after in animals that in mature life have 
much in common both physically and psychically. 
The cavy soon after birth is able to care for itself and can maintain 
an independent existence. 
The rabbit at birth is blind, deaf, incapable of any considerable loco- 
motive power, and is, generally speaking, in a perfectly helpless condition. 
But this creature attains to a condition of comparative maturity, 
physical and psychic, within a month, so that it is then quite capable of 
caring, in all respects, for itself. All its instincts, except the sexual, are - 
in full development about this time or soon after. 
In both the rabbit and the cavy, so simple is their psychic life that 
there is little to note by way of advance after they are a few weeks old. 
After the first month of existence comparison with the dog, cat and 
allied creatures ceases to be suggestive. The rodents are left quite 
behind. They seem capable of little education either by man or by 
Nature. In other words, they get little from experience beyond that 
which strengthens their instincts and emphasizes their simple psychic life. 
During this rapid psychic development physical changes of an 
equally rapid and decided character take place, and are undoubtedly 
correlated with the psychic changes. 
