THE PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT OF YOtJNG ANIMALS 219 



a comparatively complete development rather suddenly, 

 even when the animal is watched daily. This was 

 especially observable in the mongrel puppy after a 

 certain date, and was, I think, all the more so because 

 his development for a time seemed rather slow, which 

 I attribute in part to his being the sole puppy for most 

 of his life. 



And here I would draw special attention to facts of 

 this character. The puppy's weaning was not begun 

 till the 39th day, as his dam was well able to supply 

 him with milk, and his nutrition was excellent, but 

 when this process, generally requiring a good deal 

 of care, and often attended by much derangement of 

 health, was begun, there seemed to be no need of 

 gradation, etc. The puppy was ready at once in every 

 sense to eat all kinds of food fit for a dog. 



When he was allowed out in the yard, all voluntary 

 movements seemed to undergo a rapid development, 

 which was not largely due, I think, to special exercise 

 or practice, but to the sudden development of elements 

 of the nerve centres that had been functionally latent. 



As before stated, this case of rapid development in 

 different directions has impressed me very forcibly, 

 and seems to be in harmony with a law of nature of 

 pretty wide application. 



I do not think this puppy's intelligence was equal to 

 that of the St Bernards at three months, though super- 

 ficial observation might have led one to conclude the 

 reverse. Forward people often pass with the undiscern- 

 ing for having an ability they do not possess, because 

 of their confident, showy bearing, and the same remark 

 would apply to this mongrel puppy. The animal is 

 now more than four months old, and I have seen 

 nothing in him to lead me to alter this opinion, though 

 much to confirm what I have endeavoured to make 

 clear, as having impressed me as true of the psychic 



