The Descent of Man 35 



in support of the rationality of brutes. Before doing so, how- 

 ever, we must remark that our author's statements, given on 

 the authority (sometimes second-hand authority) of others, 

 afford Httle evidence of careful criticism. This is the more 

 noteworthy when we consider the conscientious care and 

 pains Avhich he bestows on all the phenomena which he 

 oxamines himself. 



Thus, for example, we are told on the authority of Brehni 

 that— 



* An eagle seized a young cercopithecus, wliich, by clinging to a 

 branch, was not at once carried off; it cried loudly for assistance, 

 upon wliich other members of the troop, with much uproar, rushed to 

 the rescue, surrounded the eagle, and pulled out so many feathers that 

 he no longer thought of his prey, but only how to escape.' — Vol. i. 

 p. 76. 



We confess Ave Avish that Mr. DarAvin had himself wit- 

 nessed this episode. Perhaps, hoAvever, he has seen other 

 facts sufficiently similar to render this one credible. In the 

 absence of really trustAvorthy evidence Ave should, however, 

 be incHned to doubt the fact of a young cercopithecus, un- 

 expectedly seized, being able, by cKnging, to resist the action 

 of an eagle's Avings. 



We are surprised that Mr. DarAvin should have accepted 

 the folloAving tale Avithout suspicion : — 



'One female baboon had so capacious a heart that she not only 

 adopted young monkeys of other species, but stole young dogs and 

 cats Avhich she continually carried about. Her kindness, however, did 

 not go so far as to share her food with her adopted offspring, at which 

 Brehm was surprised, as his monkeys always divided everything quite 

 fairly with their own young ones. An adopted kitten scratched the 

 above-mentioned affectionate baboon, who certainly had a fine intellect^ 

 for she was much astonished at being scratched, and immediately ex- 

 amined the kitten's feet, and without more ado bit off the claws' (!!). 

 —Vol. i. p. 41. 



Has Mr. DarAvin ever tested this alleged fact ? Would it 



