304 



Wild Beasts 



are rarely resorted to, both the knowledge of how to 

 conduct them, and the attainments by which their results 

 could be properly interpreted, being from the nature of 

 the case most generally wanting. 



A young savage of the cat kind will naturally bite and 

 scratch when enraged, and the only means of discouraging 

 such practices are those of punishment, and a clear demon- 

 stration that its hostile attempts are unavailing. No creat- 

 ure belonging to this class could comprehend the difference 

 between right and wrong in an abstract form. But not- 

 withstanding that what is bad in itself is hidden from 

 them, things forbidden come to be quickly learned, and 

 this malum prohibitum no doubt influences their minds in 

 much the same way that, allowing for the inequalities, 

 ceremonial observances and rites affect those of savages. 

 The latter are largely occupied in performing and avoiding 

 a number of actions because they expect personal advan- 

 tages to accrue in one case, and condign vengeance to be 

 visited upon malpractice in the other. They are super- 

 stitious, and so is the brute. Over and above the benefits 

 or penalties these know of, there are others which they 

 imagine but do not know. 



To become even in a measure acquainted with pumas, 

 one must take a reasonably good-natured and intelligent 

 specimen in its infancy, and train it as consistently as if it 

 were a child ; make it feel the folly and futility of violence 

 towards its tutor, impress it with the constant experience 

 that its tricks and stratagems always fail before that friendly 

 but invincible being who watches over its life and sees 

 everything. Excite the animal's curiosity and wonder, show 



