THE PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG ANIMALS 271 



as hissing, which manifests itself at a surprisingly early 

 date in the kitten, long before the eyes open. 



As pointed out in my paper on the cat, there is a 

 general and more speedy development in this animal, 

 as compared with the dog, and this holds even for 

 reflexes, i.e. they reach perfection more rapidly in fact, 

 speaking generally, the cat develops faster than even 

 the smaller varieties of dogs, as terriers. 



By the 16th day the kitten, specially observed by 

 me, licked its paw. This, under the circumstances, can 

 scarcely be regarded as a pure reflex ; certainly, dogs 

 do nothing comparable to this at so early a date. It 

 also scratched its head with the hind leg on the 16th 

 day. Whether this be regarded as voluntary or reflex, 

 it indicates that the cat is in advance of the dog. 



Nothing could better demonstrate the more rapid 

 psychic development of the cat than the earlier date 

 at which it steadily follows a moving object with the 

 eyes, or fixes them for some time on a stationary one. 

 In fact, the kitten does this at a time when it is still 

 doubtful if the puppy sees objects, as such, distinctly. 



On the 18th day the kitten climbed up the side of 

 its box and tried to get out. Nothing comparable to 

 this occurs in the puppy till a good deal later. It may 

 be said that the history of the cat during the first six 

 weeks of its life contrasts strongly with that of the dog, 

 as regards the more rapid development of reflex move- 

 ments, the earlier appearance of voluntary movements, 

 and the speedier perfection attained by each, together 

 with the more ready and complete utilisation of ex- 

 perience, the early intelligence, the strength of the will, 

 and the power of attention. 



All this is correlated with that earlier development 

 of the cerebral cortex which I have shown occurs in 

 the cat, and there is probably a greater difference than 



