108 INTELLIGENCE SPREAD AMONG ANIMALS. 



If the firing had been upon large herds of game by 

 visible enemies recklessly firing " into the brown of 

 them," upon the open plain, it would be easy to under- 

 stand the thing ; but in the forest game is very rarely 

 found in herds, and the firing is mostly upon one, or 

 at most upon two or three individuals; and when the 

 shot is fired at a solitary deer or other animal, if it 

 takes effect that particular beast disappears and is 

 seen no more. It is therefore all the more remarkable 

 to find scattered members of an animal fraternity all 

 at once becoming aware of a lurking danger, proceeding 

 from a source which must be hidden to by far the 

 greater number of their society. 



Can it be that each species of the animal kingdom 

 has its distinct and separate language, in which 

 what are generally regarded as the dumb beasts 

 are enabled to communicate with, and speak their 

 sentiments to each other, and tell of their fears and 

 their perils? 



It would appear so; at least, though we do not 

 venture dogmatically to assert that this is the case, it seems 

 difficult to give a satisfactory explanation of these 

 matters upon any other supposition. Unless animals 

 can in some way communicate their ideas to each 

 other, intelligence of events happening to other mem- 

 bers of the community, and not actually witnessed by 

 the beast itself, should be beyond its cognizance. Yet 

 we find that by some means this intelligence does 

 spread with singular rapidity from beast to beast 

 throughout a large area of country. If Mr. Van 

 Dyke's experiences are to be received as reliable, they 

 are conclusive upon this point, and we see not the 

 slightest reason for doubting what he says, in what 



