112 UNDERHILL : 



other Ungulates, such as the stupid, staring ox, he seems to 

 stand well above them all. 



Throughout history the horse has been exalted as man's 

 fittest companion in peace and war. His proud carriage, 

 stamina, lines of beauty, and big, gentle e}'es appeal to us, 

 and we like to regard him as the most intelligent of our 

 animals. The writer has had but comparatively little oppor- 

 tunity to observe the mental operations of the lower animals 

 other than those in domestication, and it is perhaps unneces- 

 sary to say that he is neither a psychologist nor an experi- 

 mental investigator in the subject. Such observations as he 

 has made, however, during a considerable experience with the 

 horse, are not in support of the mental rating to which we 

 who are his admirers are inclined to assign him. Perhaps we 

 are most often misled in our conclusions as to animal men- 

 tality b}^ too readih^ inferring the existence of thoughts and 

 emotions similar to our own from actions which appear to 

 exhibit them. The contemplation of the workings of the 

 mind in animals lower than ourselves seems simple enough 

 when I consider the activities due to the operations of my own 

 mind and then, by analogy, infer mental operations from the 

 observed activities in them. Thus, a friend appears, coming 

 to greet me, and, through regard for him as a friend, I give 

 expression to my pleasure by an exclamation. I approach 

 my horse; he regards me intently, and as J draw near he 

 gives a low whinny. Reasoning from the activity which my 

 own feeling for a friend prompts, I conclude that the horse 

 looks upon me as a friend and that this is his way of express- 

 ing his pleasure at my approach. Again, I wish to enter a 

 man's house and, presuming he is in and will come to open 

 the door if I make my presence known, I knock. Similarly, 

 my dog comes to my door and paws at it, manifesting a 

 desire to get in. Reasoning by analogy, I conclude that he 

 paws the door to tell nic that he is there and that he wants me 

 to open it for him. And so, numerous exain])les might be 

 cited of the applicatiiMi of this mc-thod, whii-h assumes that 



