Relation of Higher Animals to Man 563 



As in the case of the beaver, of ants, and of bees, the pro- 

 nounced social habits that elephants have evolved unques- 

 tionably have aided much in accentuating and fixing many of 

 the higher cogitic features now typical of the group. The 

 many accurately recorded cases of social sympathy, fear, hatred, 

 anger, effort, and accomplishment are proof of such; while the 

 cogitic acts shown by "rogue elephants" confirm this in a 

 striking manner. A flexible and richly nervous protrusion 

 of the naso-maxillary region here functions in similar manner, 

 and as an equally efficient organ, to the forelimbs and the 

 gnawing teeth in the beaver. 



Amongst the Carnivora, and even amongst the entire series 

 of mammals lower than the anthropoid apes, it is usually con- 

 ceded that the dog holds first place for intelligence and alert 

 response. For our present purpose also it is an exceptionally 

 interesting type, since it illustrates in striking manner what 

 education by a higher organism — in this case man — can do for 

 a lower one, that in the wild state shows rather brutal and 

 even ferocious instincts. But, from our combined knowledge 

 of the wolf, the fox, and the dog in the wild condition, it can 

 definitely be accepted that the dog naturally exhibits decidedly 

 high cogitic or mental qualities. On the principle of environal 

 action and proenvironal response, we would consider that the 

 dog has evolved in the feral state through increasing and varied 

 use of the olfactory, optic, and auditory senses, combined to a 

 minor degree with that of the forelimbs. The last of these are 

 used for digging, for grasping, for pawing, and for cleaning 

 itself. The olfactory sense is exceptionally keen, and has evi- 

 dently had much to do with the evolution of the species. For 

 thus it can follow and run down its prey, it can distinguish 

 tracks of different animals, it can quickly recognize one of the 

 same pack, or any animals that have proved friendly, it can 

 scent danger in the lurking presence of some enemy, it can 

 even scent out its prey when such is as yet unseen. This ex- 

 treme olfactory sensitivity — doubtless gradually acquired — 

 combined with keen sense of hearing and usually of sight, have 

 cooperated with use of the forelimbs to send many environal 



