244 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE 
what seems to be a general law: that those capabilities 
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 7th 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 perfection rapidly. 
In spontaneous attempts at eating, the rabbit is very 
much in advance of the dog and cat. 
There are very decided physical changes accompany- 
ing the psychic ones, many of which have been noted 
in the diary. 
Remarks on the Diary of the Cavy (Guinea-Pig)—The 
Rabbit and the Cavy Compared. 
The cavy shows so clearly, soon after birth, that it 
sees, hears, smells, tastes, etc., that it would be hazard- 
ous to assert that these functions do not exist at birth. 
However, I 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. 
