i3o ANIMALS AT WORK AND PL A Y 



purpose of discerning objects, as to leave its more 

 specialised use for distinguishing colour very im- 

 perfectly developed. Domestic animals, which see 

 bright colours other than green in large masses 

 more frequently than wild ones, might be supposed 

 to exhibit the consciousness of such differences in 

 the most pronounced way. Yet it is next to im- 

 possible to cite an instance in which a dog exhibits 

 curiosity as to colour, or identifies an object by its 

 hue. The writer has seen a setter refuse to retrieve 

 a black rabbit because it apparently thought its 

 master had shot a black cat. But a house-living 

 dog shows no preference for a red carpet or rug 

 over a blue or variegated one, and expresses no 

 surprise or curiosity whether its master wears a red 

 uniform or a black evening suit. Domestic cattle 

 are so far affected by violent contrast of white and 

 dark that the presence of a black, white, or very 

 clearly-spotted animal in the herd sometimes results 

 in calves being thrown of the same colour or mark- 

 ings. But though red is said to irritate a bull, and 

 to excite hunters by association of ideas, the latter 

 statement rests partly on surmise. They are equally 

 excited by the sound or sight of hounds, or of a 

 number of riders, whatever the colour of their coats. 

 None or the cats, whether wild or tame, show any 

 partiality for bright hues ; and among all the strata- 



