312 THE MENTAL CAPACITIES AND 



adaptation of means to ends which characterizes Intelli- 

 gence in all its grades. 



The sagacity of the Horse and of the Dog and espe- 

 cially of the latter is well known and appreciated. Much 

 of the high intelligence exhibited by Dogs, however, is 

 perhaps to be regarded as a distinct result of the educa- 

 tion of individual animals while they have been acting as 

 Man's associates and helpers. Under his influence the 

 aptitudes and cerebral organization of the race appear to 

 have been slowly improved. Still, notwithstanding the 

 advantages of this association, the Dog could never have 

 profited by it so much as he has done, had he not been 

 endowed with an unusual plasticity of organization, to- 

 gether with faculties of observation and a power of Atten- 

 tion of no ordinary kind. 



The faculties of the Wild Dog are not very different 

 from those of the Wolf, and in almost all respects they are 

 notably inferior to those of animals whose ancestors have 

 been educated by association with Man. Even Wolves 

 will, however, hunt their prey in couples with skilfully 

 concerted though varying actions, calculated to make their 

 victims fall an easy prey to stratagem. Dogs have also 

 been known to adopt a very similar role and that even 

 when the conspirators have been altogether different in 

 size and breed. 



Evidence is not wanting to show that some of the 

 emotions of a Dog may have an altruistic basis apart 

 from mere instinctive love or affection for their offspring. 

 The Dog's sympathy with its master when in distress, is 

 more marked and more frequently met with than it is 

 for members of its own kind whom it may chance to 

 meet under circumstances of more or less distress. Of 

 the former kind of Sympathy on the part of the Dog 

 numerous stories are on record ; and this feeling is to be 



