M. Frederic Cuvier. 9 



human mind, which retires within itself, and studies its own 

 workings. 



Reflection, then, thus defined, is the limit which separates 

 the intelligence of man from that of animals. And all must in 

 truth agree that here, in fact, is the line of a very distinct 

 demarcation. This thought which reflects upon itself, — this 

 intelligence which perceives its own existence, and makes 

 itself the subject of study, — this knowledge which knows it- 

 self, these, one and all, evidently form an order of determinate 

 phenomena of a distinct nature, and to which no animal can 

 attain. Here we find, so to speak, a world which is purely 

 intellectual, and this world belongs to man alone. In a word, 

 animals feel, know, think ; and to man alone, of all terrestrial 

 beings, has it been given to feel that he feels, to know that he 

 knows, and to think that he thinks. 



Being able on this occasion to dwell only upon the principal 

 results which follow from the observations of M. F. Cuvier, I 

 hasten to the most novel and important facts, and these I can 

 introduce only in a manner the most rapid and succinct. The 

 influence of the senses upon the intelligence has been very 

 much exaggerated. Helvetius went the length of saying that 

 man owes his superiority over the brutes only to his hands. 

 M. F. Cuvier demonstrates, from the example of the seal, that, 

 even among animals, it is not the external senses, but an organ 

 much more profound and internal, in fact the brain, on which 

 the development of intelligence is dependent. The senses of 

 the seal (sight, taste, smell, hearing) are all very imperfect ; 

 instead of hands it has but fins, and notwithstanding, in com- 

 parison with the other mammalia, it is largely endowed with 

 intelligence. 



It is well known how much Buffon has declaimed about the 

 magnanimity of the lion, on his pride and courage, and upon 

 the violence of the tiger, his insatiable cruelty, and his blind 

 ferocity. But in spite of all that Buffon has said, M. F. Cuvier 

 has always observed the same character in these two animals ; 

 that both are alike susceptible of affection and gratitude, and 

 alike terrible in their rage. Helvetius, a philosopher, sought 

 for a principle, and he announced one, which was the result of 

 a forced generalization. Buffon, an author, describes in ani- 



