ANIMAL AND RATIONAL INTELLIGENCE 195 



the four animals. This test must be evidence of 

 an intelligent discrimination, distinct from sensible 

 discrimination. Evidence of intelligence will most 

 readily be found in two directions, adaptation of means 

 to ends in actions natural to the animal, and inter 

 pretation of signs for guidance of action. We have 

 thus a general test which can be applied to the whole 

 range of observations concerned with the natural life 

 of animals ; and a special test when domestication has 

 placed an animal in constant and close companion 

 ship with man. We place first the test of natural 

 activity under pressure of natural demands. We shall 

 take next the educational test, when man takes direc 

 tion of an animal. In the one case, we ascertain what 

 powers appear when the animal is left to itself ; in the 

 other, we judge of a capability for development which 

 would not have been called forth in meeting the com 

 mon wants of animal life. 



Taking first the natural life of the higher mammals, 

 the range of evidence is not at all so wide and varied 

 as that drawn from domestication. This is so far 

 accounted for by the fact, that observations of animals 

 in the natural or wild state, being much more difficult 

 and less frequent, must yield restricted and more 

 precarious results. By way of balancing this deficiency, 

 it must be remembered that domestication only sets 

 more vividly in view the power natural to an animal. 

 We do not originate the characteristics of species. 

 At best, we can only develop them by supplying such 

 external aids as superior intelligence may bring 

 within reach. Hence the ext ent to which an animal 

 can understand our purpose, and render to us aid in 

 work, is a sure test of natural intelligence, allowance 



