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MENTAL TRAITS OF A FEW RUMINANTS 



WHEN we wish to cover with a single word the hoofed 

 and horned "big game" of the world, we say Ruminants. 

 That easy and comprehensive name embraces (i) the 

 Bison and Wild Cattle, (2) the Sheep, Goats, Ibexes and 

 Markhors, (3) the Deer Family and (4) the Antelope Family. 

 These groups must be considered separately, because the 

 variations hi mind and temperament are quite well marked; 

 but beyond wisdom in self-preservation, I do not regard the 

 intelligence of wild ruminants as being really great. 



Intellectually the ruminants are not as high as the apes 

 and monkeys, bears, wolves, foxes and dogs, the domestic 

 horses and the elephants. They are handicapped by feet 

 that are good for locomotion and defense, but otherwise are 

 almost as helpless as so many jointed sticks. This condition 

 closes to the ruminants the possibility of a long program of 

 activities which the ruminant brain might otherwise develop. 

 The ruminant hoof and leg is well designed for swift and 

 rough travel, for battles with distance, snow, ice, mud and 

 flood, and for a certain amount of fighting, but they are inept 

 for the higher manifestations of brain power. 



Because of this unfortunate condition, the study of rumi- 

 nants in captivity does not yield a great crop of results. The 

 free wild animals are far better subjects, and it is from them 

 that we have derived our best knowledge of ruminant thoughts 

 and ways. It is not possible, however, to set forth here any 

 more than a limited number of representative species. 



THE BISON AND WILD CATTLE. The American 

 Bison. Through the age-long habit of the American bison 



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