280 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE 



among mammals. Horses, deer, sheep, and cattle are 

 born with some power of locomotion, with sight, 

 hearing, etc., in active operation, and with mental 

 powers in exercise. The rabbit is born blind and, 

 though sentient, scarcely conscious for ten or twelve 

 days after birth; a period corresponding to about 

 a year of the human span of life. Puppies and kittens, 

 also, are born blind and helpless ; and man, though 

 born with open eyes, remains helpless and dubiously 

 conscious for many months. 1 



Again, certain animals which in an early stage of 

 existence may possess a dim power of reflection, and 

 exercise volition in locomotion and the quest for food, 

 pass through a subsequent comatose and unconscious 

 phase. Thus a caterpillar falling into the middle of 

 a road sets off at top speed for the nearest verdure. 

 A few weeks later it loses all power of locomotion, and 

 probably all consciousness, although the motor nerves 

 of the chrysalis cause muscular movements when it is 

 touched. 



It seems, then, impossible to indicate precisely the 

 period of existence when consciousness begins. Al- 

 though the lion cub is born with legs and eyes, the 

 eaglet with wings, legs, eyes, and wings cannot be put 

 to use for long afterwards; but the foal in the 



1 In the Personal Reminiscences of Sir Frederick Pollock, vol. ii. 

 pp. 188-9, the following incredible passage occurs : ' Dugald Stewart 

 was once asked what was the earliest thing he could remember. 

 He said it was being left alone by his nurse in his cradle and 

 resolving to tell of her as soon as he could speak.' My sole object in 

 quoting this is to give an example of the kind of uncritical rubbish 

 which has to be cleared away before any progress can be made in 

 penetrating the supersensory mystery. 



