CHAPTER XVII. 



INTELLIGIBILITY OF EACH OTHER'S LANGUAGE. 



THE different individuals of the same species thoroughly 

 understand the language of the species, whatever be its nature. 

 It is as intelligible to the whole community as is the 

 language of any nation of men to the individuals composing 

 the nation ; much more so indeed, when it is remembered 

 that among civilised peoples at least, what is called and 

 considered the proper language as written, printed, and 

 spoken of the people, is intelligible only to the educated ; 

 while the special language of one class is unintelligible to 

 those who are not members of the class, or who have not 

 studied its special phraseology. 



Animals then of the same species have mutual under- 

 standings. They show in a thousand ways how speedily and 

 readily they interchange feelings and ideas ; receive and 

 communicate information ; realise each other's position, 

 wants, or wishes. They make instant response or reply to 

 the calls or signals of their fellows, whether in the wild 

 or domesticated state, and domesticated to those of wild 

 animals, or vice versa as in the goose, ape, or elephant. 

 The number ,and variety of the feelings and ideas which are 

 communicated to each other by the ant and hive bee are 

 pointed out by Houzeau. The leader of wild horse or 

 elephant troops makes his wishes or orders on the march or 

 in defence thoroughly known to the rest (Watson). 



Gestures of mutual understanding between the sexes 

 take place in the fowl (Darwin). The mother fox's plaint or 

 wail is understood and obeyed as a danger signal by her 

 young (Houzeau). 



