SOME POPULAR ERRORS 



gled to be brushed? The expression of their faces 

 of perfect satisfaction was unmistakable, also the 

 way they asked for more and more, even when I 

 was aching with the vigorous exercise." 



The answer to this is that there is no need to 

 suppose that the cows knew that they felt pleased 

 with the brushing. This was good for them, and 

 their instinct guided them to seek it, ill-using each 

 other if necessary in order to get a larger share 

 of it. But this is only the same action which 

 flowers perform when they spread their petals 

 wide and thrust themselves above each other to 

 get as much of the good sunlight as they can. 



The converse of the action is shown in the con- 

 duct of the cows which retired to the background 

 when " horned in the ribs," and of the Sensitive 

 Plant which shrinks from a touch. 



But we need not, either in the case of the animal 

 or the plant, pre-suppose self-conscious knowledge 

 of the meaning of these useful actions. 



Another correspondent wrote : " I am a con- 

 firmed believer of your theory about animals not 

 suffering conscious pain; but one point I would 

 like to be enlightened upon is why a horse cannot 

 be led out of a burning stable unless blindfolded. 

 Yet another case which offers difficulty is why a 

 dog, when prostrated with some internal disease, 

 moans. It was formerly a gregarious animal, and 



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