56 WESLEY MILLS ON 



through what I have termed the lip-call, not to be identified with an}- other sound. Is this 

 the result of heredity to any extent, this sound having been used more than any other in 

 attracting the attention of dogs ? But so readily are psychic associations formed that one 

 must not be sure of this. The dog above all our domestic animals is a plastic creature and 

 his life is made up largely of associative reflexes and kindred neuroses with corresponding 

 psychoses. This principle I regard as a key that unlocks more of the secret places of canine 

 nature than perhaps any other unless it be heredity itself. 



Humour. — The records of the 26th and 33rd days seem to show that even such young 

 puppies appreciate fun or humour much as a child does — and this can lie almost daily ob- 

 served in mature dogs. 



Attention and Fatigue. — My observations on these sulijects, some of which I have 

 attempted to record, show in tlie plainest way how very readily a puppy is fatigued, but also 

 indicate a gradual improvement in this respect. This readiness in experiencing fatigue 

 explains why, moreover, one observer may be led to question the observations of another on 

 very young animals. Again and again have I failed in mj' attempt to get the same result 

 on repetition. In fact, the rule up to about the 20th day was that success on repetition of 

 certain stimuli was very doubtful owing to fatigue. 



This is well illustrated in the case of the growling reflex, etc., of the 17th day. But it 

 applies to all the senses and the whole life of the aninud sonuitic'and psychic. 



For this reason sleep follows at once on the exertion of play with its physical move- 

 ments and its sensory stimuli tending to exhaust. 



Hence too the necessity of abundance of sleep in early life for all aninaals. 



How important that this state of things should be recognized by all educators — in fact 

 all who have to do with young children to whom it applies equally with dogs and other 

 young animals ! 



Consciousness. — The dependence of consciousness on sensory impressions is readily 

 shown. It was found that bandaging the eyes of the puppies sufficed on the 18th day to 

 quiet them and even put them asleep when in their usual environment (pen). 



This subject is evidently closely akin to the previous ones. While these relations exist 

 all through life their clearest demonstration is in the young animal. 



Dreaming. — If mature dogs dream, and of this there seems no reasonable doubt, the 

 phenomena witnessed in the puppies on the 35th day is evidence of the same state. Growl- 

 ing in sleep was noted as early as the 17th day. But I would hesitate to refer this to 

 dreaming, in fact, I do not think such an explanation applicable if the term " dreaming " 

 be used in the same sense in which it would apply to a mature dog having a vision of 

 imaginary events that rouse feelings. 



Will. — It may perhaps be doubted if there be any appreciable exercise of will proper 

 during the period when the eyes are unopened. But on the 17th day when on the puppy's 

 ear being rubbed gently he, in addition to scratching, puts up his foreleg occasionally as if to 

 remove the source of irritation, there is the appearance of volition. At first reflex and volun- 

 tary action are much mixed, of which there are many examples to be picked out from the 

 diary. But in some instances, cases of pure volition may be found, e. g., when on the 20th 

 day the puppies go to the wall of their pen and attempt to get over it. But even this is to 

 me by no means so clear a case as that of the 41st day when a puppy watches a fly that has 

 been tormenting him and then steadying his head deliberately snaps at it like a mature dog. 



