240 Characteristics of Animals. [Oct., 



study — the bee not yet a week old accomplishes in the qnincunx 



disposition of its cells. Instinct is even more weatherwise than 



the Toiiicel.ian guage. 



" How restless are the snorting swine! 

 The busy flies disturb the kine ; 

 The sheep are seen at early light 

 Crossing the mead with eager bite ; 

 'T will surely rain !" 



Laughter has by some been held peculiar to man, but mista- 

 kenly. The expression is an emotional one rather, and is in 

 analogy with the friskiness of the dog under the caresses of his 

 master, and in the grimaces of the simiee, some species of which 

 show a decided propension to the ridiculous, and the ironical con- 

 tortion of ^ace in the baboon is indeed a " grin horrible." 



But there is a principle of distinction to be adverted to, broad 

 in its bearings, weighty in its consequences. The inferior tribes 

 being constitutionally circumscribed by the finite circle of per- 

 ception, and being furthermore from the absence of an indepen- 

 dent volition held in vassalage by the senses, can never make an 

 advance beyond the most elementary generalizations. Man, au- 

 tomatically as it were, or otherwise through the exercise of his 

 will as an auxiliary, makes a per saltum stride immeasurably be- 

 yond, through an indefinite series of generalizations upon gene- 

 ralizations. Thus man and man only reflects, that is, he only 

 takes cognizance of his own cogitations and feelings objectively. 

 The sense of right and wrong, therefore, the consciousness of mo- 

 ral obliquity, is the peculiar inheritance of human creatures. 

 " Hinc me tuunt, cupiimtque, dolent que, gavdentqice.'' The dog 

 may sneak off to his hiding place out of apprehension of chas- 

 tisement, the tiger may slink away foiled by the steadfast eye of 

 the huntsman, but here the analogy terminates. 



In consonance with such view man is seen to be invested with 

 imagination by eminence. The dog is never transported in his 

 dreams beyond the kitchen fire or the walls of the farm house; 

 man has " taken to himself the wings of the morning." Pug 

 may seize the brush and daub the wall over wuth characters 



