INTELLIGENCE OF LOWER ANIMALS. 547 



source of the faculty of Memory, and thus becomes the 

 foundation of that power of profiting by experience, which is 

 manifested in the actions of animals that are distinguished 

 for Intelligence. Such a power is well shown in the following 

 instance, related to the Author by an eye-witness. A "Wren 

 built its nest in the slate- quarries at Penrhyn, in such a 

 situation as to be liable to great disturbance from the occa- 

 sional explosions. It soon, however, learned to quit its nest 

 and fly to a little distance, on the ringing of the bell which 

 warned the workmen. This action, having been noticed, was 

 frequently shown to visitors, the bell being rung when there 

 was not to be an explosion ; so that the poor bird suffered 

 many needless alarms. It seems gradually to have learned, 

 however, that the first notion it had formed, by the associa- 

 tion of the ringing of the bell with the explosion, was liable 

 to exceptions, and to have formed another more correct ; for 

 it was observed, after a time, that the wren did not leave its 

 nest, unless the ringing of the bell was followed by the 

 moving-away of the workmen. A similar process of associa- 

 tion, carried rather further, but still quite simple enough to be 

 readily believed, is shown in two Dogs, which have been 

 taught by their master to play at dominoes, and which go 

 through the game with another person (under circumstances 

 which render the idea of collusion with their master impos- 

 sible) with the utmost regularity and correctness ; not only 

 playing rightly themselves, but watching to see that their 

 adversary does so too. This, also, is a feat which a very 

 young child might be taught to perform. A third instance 

 has reference to the patient endurance of bodily pain, in 

 opposition to the instinctive tendency to struggle against the 

 infliction of it, and evidently occasioned by a voluntary effort 

 on the part of the animal, made by it in obedience to the 

 dictates of its reason. Dr. Davy mentions having seen an 

 Elephant, in India, that was suffering under a deep abscess in 

 its back, which it was necessary to lay open in order to effect 

 a cure. " He was kneeling down, for the convenience of the 

 operator, not tied ; his keeper was at his head. He did not 

 flinch, but rather inclined towards the surgeon, uttering a low 

 suppressed groan. He seemed conscious that what was doing 

 was intended for his good ; no human being could have be- 

 haved better; and so confident were the natives that he 



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