Mind in Animals. 351 



neighborhood, who flocked to the defence of their brethren 

 against the alien. The battle waged warm and fiercely for 

 some minutes, when the sparrows were forced to seek safety 

 in retreat. 



Not only can crows and rooks assemble, hold council and 

 agree to act on the result of their deliberations, but other 

 birds are known to do the same things. Birds are able to 

 communicate their thoughts to each other by means of a 

 language, but it is not likely that in their language, or the 

 language of animals in general, there are any principles of 

 construction such as are possessed by all human languages. 

 But the same effect may be produced by different means, and 

 the reader will see that in the above instance no human 

 language, however perfect its construction, could have 

 served its purpose better than did the inarticulate language 

 of the sparrows. They told their friends that their territory 

 was usurped by an intruder too strong to be ejected by them, 

 and implored their assistance. But while it told them this, 

 it did still more, for it conveyed the report to their numerous 

 foes, who winged their way to the support of their opponents. 

 In fact, whenever animals of any kind form alliances and act 

 simultaneously for one common purpose, it is evident that 

 language of some sort must be employed. 



That beasts possess a language, which enables them to 

 communicate their ideas to each other, has been clearly 

 shown. It is j ust as apparent that they can act upon the ideas 

 so conveyed. We have now to see whether they can convey 

 their ideas to man, and so bridge over the gulf between 

 the higher and the lower beings. Were there no means of 

 communicating ideas between man and animals, domestica- 

 tion, it is true, would be impossible. Every one who has pos- 

 sessed and cared for some favorite animal must have observed 

 that they can do so. Their own language becomes in many 

 instances intelligible to man. Just as a child, that is unable 

 to pronounce words, can express its meaning by intimation, 

 so a dog can do the same by its different modes of barking. 



