A Corvine Congress. 49 



is not for an instant to be held that crows caw 

 merely to hear themselves break the silence. 

 There is nothing in all they utter akin to music. 

 It is not intended as such more than the squeal- 

 ing of a pig. The associated acts and general 

 deportment of the crows clearly show they 

 have other purposes than soothing their excited 

 nerves with song. But how do we know this ? 

 It is difficult to satisfactorily reply, inasmuch as 

 it has been claimed, whether with good reason 

 or not, that it is not justifiable to judge the 

 non-human by the human standard. This may 

 be true, but I know of no other standard. 

 When a lower animal does the same thing that 

 we would do under like circumstances, it seems 

 thoroughly logical to assume that the intention 

 is the same in either case. When we see our 

 legislatures in session or recall the pleasant days 

 of youthful debating societies, the purpose of 

 the gathering together of a number of indi- 

 viduals is recognized at once, and would be if 

 we were deaf and could hear not a word that 

 was spoken. It is safe to say that a dog, enter- 

 ing a church during service, would recognize 

 that the officiating clergyman was speaking and 

 4 



