CHAPTER XXI 



BENEVOLENCE IN MAN AND BEAST 



WITHIN the limits of animal character good qualities 

 so predominate over bad that the world has become 

 almost exacting in its expectations of excellence in 

 their imperfect intelligences. Traits of courage, good 

 temper, fidelity, intense family affection, and a great 

 capacity for friendship, which in cases deserves the 

 name of love, for man, have raised an expectation of 

 other qualities which we should expect to correspond 

 with them. 



It is commonly regretted, for instance, that in their 

 society instances of benevolence and practical sympathy 

 with other animals are so rare, a regret based on the 

 assumption that there ought to be a sentiment between 

 one animal and another equivalent to " philanthropy " 

 among mankind. 



This feeling scarcely takes into account the complex 

 nature of benevolence, or the lateness of its develop- 

 ment in- man, or the limits to the possibilities of its 

 development in animal minds. It does not follow that 

 the very general absence of benevolence towards other 

 animals, related or non-related, discredits the animal 

 disposition as it would that of some human com- 

 munity where the sentiment of philanthropy was 



