CAPACITY FOE EDUCATION. 237 



certain other animals there are special natural talents which 

 must be discovered in order to be cultivated by man, and 

 which are frequently discovered and successfully cultivated, 

 to their gain, by the enterprising trainers of * performing ' 

 or ' learned ' animals. Hence an animal's education is some- 

 times specially theatrical or arithmetical, musical or gym- 

 nastic, while every such specialisation of instruction implies 

 a certain basis of general education. Thus the sporting dog 

 has what may be termed its technical orprofessional education ; 

 its discipline is directed and adapted to the nature of the 

 special sport, occupation, or employment in which it is to be 

 engaged (Walsh). 



But, as a general rule, there is wonderful capacity for 

 mental progress under training among the lower animals 

 singular moral and intellectual plasticity, ready response to 

 all efforts or circumstances that lead to evolution of their 

 varied faculties, whether of mind or body. There is a speedy 

 or gradual acquisition of knowledge, usually of a practical 

 kind, and a due application of that knowledge to circum- 

 stances. Further, the modes of acquiring their knowledge, 

 of whatever kind, are the same as in man. In the first 

 place, a high degree of general intelligence is necessarily 

 involved, while the following special faculties are called into 

 play : 



Observation. Comparison. 



Investigation. Judgment. 



Experiment. Imagination. 



Attention. Volition. 



Imitation. Emotion. 



Memory. Patience. 



Perception of error. Perseverance. 



Self- correction. Zeal. 



The practising of lessons. Diligence. 



Reflection. 



The education of the lower animals is divisible, as in the 

 case of the child, into that which is 



1. Physical or bodily, tending to the development of 

 muscular activity as well as to general healthiness of body, 

 and necessarily also of mind. 



