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. 



