CHAPTER XXXIII. 



COMMISSION OP ERROR (continued). 



THERE is a whole group of errors of sufficient interest to 

 require special consideration those connected with the con- 

 founding of resemblance with reality. They include mistakes 

 connected with 



1. Mirrored images. 



2. Pictorial representations. 



3. Other representations such as animal-like toys. 



4. Stuffed animals or their skins. 



5. Shadows. 



6. What have latterly been called the natural ' protective 

 resemblances,' or ' disguises/ of plants and animals. 



The dog or parrot, that sees its own image reflected in 

 a looking-glass, naturally mistakes that image for another 

 individual of the same species, who may become its rival or 

 playfellow ; and equally naturally, if it be an intelligent ani- 

 mal, not morbidly irascible, it goes to the other side of the 

 mirror in order to find its alter ego. The result is usually a 

 varying degree of bewilderment, with perhaps repeated 

 attempts by re-inspection and re-investigation to explain 

 the puzzle. It may go the length of experiment pawing, or 

 hitting at, its image, and finding simply a non-retaliating 

 surface and a figure that repeats provokingly and exactly 

 every movement and even look of its own. 



The dog, for instance, puts to the test the exact nature 

 of the puzzling image by one of his modes of experimenting 

 by sniffing at it by smell. He does not long remain de- 

 ceived, because he corrects the error of his vision and imagi- 

 nation by his sense of smell ; he trusts at all times more to 



