6 M. Flourens's Historical Eloge on 



from that of the brute. On the other hand, Conclillac and 

 George Leroy conceded to animals intellectual processes of 

 the highest order; these concessions they grounded upon 

 certain observed actions, which, if they belonged to intelli- 

 gence at all, certainly required these processes ; and they did 

 not, any more than the others, perceive the limit which sepa- 

 rates instinct from intelligence. 



The first result* of the observations of M. F. Cuvier de- 

 termines the limits of intelligence in the different species of 

 animals. Buffon had already supplied a general idea of a 

 graduated scale of the internal faculties of animals, but he con- 

 sidered only the principal divisions of the animal series. M. 

 F. Cuvier went much farther. Even in the class of mammals 

 he perceived that intelligence rose and augmented from one 

 order to another, — from the Rodents to the Ruminants, — from 

 the Ruminants to the Pachydermata, and from these last to 

 the Carnassiers and the Quadrumana. Of all animals the one 

 which shews the most intelligence is the Orang-outang. The 

 one studied by M. F. Cuyier delighted to climb trees ; and if 

 any person manifested an intention to mount the tree he had 

 ascended for the purpose of catching him, he immediately shook 

 it with all his mighfc for the purpose of alarming the individual 

 who was approaching him. If he were shut into a room, he 

 soon opened the door ; and if he could not reach the lock, for 

 he was quite young, he stood on a chair for the purpose of 

 reaching it. Finally, when he was refused any thing he was 

 anxious to obtain, he knocked his head upon the ground, and 

 actually injured himself, that he might excite the greater in- 

 terest and compassion. This is precisely what man himself 

 does when a child ; it is what no other animal does but the 

 Orang-outang ; he is the only and solitary exception. 



But we have to add something still more remarkable. It 

 is that the intelligence of the orang-outang, this intelligence 

 which is so much and so early developed, decreases with his 

 age. The orang-outang, when young, astonishes us by his 



* For the development of these results, I must refer to my Resume ana- 

 lytique des observations de M. F. Cuvier sur V instinct et P intelligence des animaux: 

 (Journal des Savants. Anne'e 1830). I can here do little more than enume- 

 rate them. 



