DEGENEBACY OF MIND IN MAN. 13 



Victor, the savage of the Aveyron, and such children as 

 Peter, the wild boy of Hanover, and the so-called wolf- 

 children of India. As regards the latter, it matters not at 

 all, for our present purpose, whether or not they were really 

 nourished or protected by wolves. That is a question be- 

 longing to the subject of foster-parentage. At present our 

 concern is simply with their animal habits. Though doubts 

 hare been thrown upon the character of their up-bringing, it 

 seems to be generally conceded by trustworthy authorities, 

 including Professor Max Miiller, Professor Seeley, Colonel 

 Sleeman, and the Rev. Mr. Gerhardt, that these wolf- 

 children were really or virtually juvenile idiots, running 

 wild in the Indian jungle, living the life, and assuming the 

 habits of, if they did not also associate with, wolves or 

 other wild forest animals. Their peculiarities of habit and 

 life included the following: 



1. The quadrupedal practice of going on all fours, com- 

 mon to the savage of Aveyron and other wild men or chil- 

 dren. This involves the use of the arms and hands as 

 forelegs and paws. ' The facility with which they get along 

 on four feet ' (hands and feet in reality) ( is surprising' 

 (Gerhardt). 



2. The squirrel-like habit of climbing trees, as in the 

 well-known cases of Peter of Hanover and Victor of Aveyron. 



3. Nocturnal prowling, with hiding in solitary places and 

 sleeping by day. 



4. Lapping, or sucking water, like the ox, horse or dog, 

 as exhibited by the savage of Aveyron. 



5. Ravenously tearing up and eating raw flesh even of 

 living animals ; and the devouring of offal, with the gather- 

 ing and gnawing of bones, as well as catching and swallowing 

 flies like a dog (Browne). Cannibalism is included also in 

 this form of feral appetite. 



6. The use, as food, of raw fruits or seeds, such as acorns ; 

 of roots, bark, leaves, grass, and various vegetables, again 

 as illustrated in the cases of Peter and Victor. 



7. The smelling of all food before eating it, as in the case 

 of Peter of the Hanoverian woods. 



8. Ferocious biting. A boy found in company with a 



