138 LIFE ON THE EARTH. 



alluded to the dog, as the instance most familiar to us 

 the animal ' ad hominum coinmoditates generatus,' to 

 take the closing words of Cicero's eulogium. But 

 seeking more general illustration from among the 

 higher animals, domesticated or wild, the following 

 may be taken as a summary of the comparison with 

 man. 



Of their reasoning faculty in this relation no happier 

 definition can be given than that of Cuvier : ' Leur in- 

 telligence execute des operations du menie genre.' Mil- 

 ton says, in more guarded phrase, ' They reason not 

 contemptibly.' The kind of reason, however narrow 

 in its scope and combinations, is virtually the same. 

 The mute syllogism of the monkey, or dog, or elephant 

 is perfect as far as it goes, and might be translated into 

 speech or writing. ' It is less easy to apply the term 

 reflection to their intelligence, yet I think it cannot 

 rightly be excluded. Locke denies to them the power 

 of forming, ' abstract or general ideas ; ' but these terms 

 themselves have long been the subject of controversy, 

 and are not easily admitted into proof. That they 

 possess and largely employ the memory of objects and 

 events is indisputable ; but we have not the same proof 

 as to that higher faculty of recollection the ^ij^yj 

 crvvOtTLKTj to which the mind of man owes so much of 

 its power and attainments. 1 



Another question occurs, whether anticipation of 

 the future comes within their scope of thought ? In- 



1 Aristotle denies to other animals this faculty of Avapvtimg. He says, 



To pt'tj^ovtviLV rioi' oXAwr %i{ju>v ptTi%(i TroXXa ' TOII Si iivniJivr}GKi(j;'cn ci)?n>' 



Cicero speaks of tjie ' niens, ratio et memoria' of the ant. 



