284 INDIVIDUALITY. 



physical, characteristics. Thus the bull-dog is characterised 

 by ferocity, determination, tenacity of purpose, courage ; the 

 Irish setter by wilfulness and want of steadiness ; the fox- 

 hound by precipitancy or dash ; the poodle by intelligence, 

 the wide range of its educational capabilities, love of appro- 

 bation, gravity ; the beagle by pertinacity, pluck, endurance 

 (Low). 



Cats, like dogs, frequently exhibit a kind or amount of 

 individuality that amounts to eccentricity. Thus Wynter 

 mentions a cat of his own that selected blotting paper on 

 which to sit or lie. Clara Rossiter describes another as 

 regularly pulling all the pins from a pincushion and laying 

 them out on the table ; ' and when the last was taken out, 

 looking up into our faces with a most comical expression, and 

 making us understand she wanted them replaced. However 

 many times we stuck the pins in, she would as frequently 

 pull them out.' Another peculiarity of this cat was her 

 partiality for cut flowers, which she devoured one by one, 

 removing them by means of her mouth from the vases in 

 which they were contained. Wood tells us of a torn cat that 

 was quite as aristocratic in his notions and habits as certain 

 dogs already mentioned, ' Nothing would induce him not 

 even milk when he was hungry to put his head into the 

 kitchen, or to enter the house by the servants' door.' 



Horses differ greatly in their tempers, fearlessness, or 

 courage; some being fiery, while others are gentle and 

 timid ; some being confident and brave, while others start 

 or hesitate, exhibit tremor or shying, at every unusual object 

 (Low). In Nicaraguan mules, 'just as in man, there is every 

 variety of disposition and ability. Some are easily led, others 

 most obstinate and headstrong; some wise and prudent, 

 others foolish and rash 5 (Belt). 



There are great differences also in the disposition of 

 squirrels; some being grave, others gay; some gentle, others 

 fierce; some familiar, others sullen; some tractable or obe- 

 dient, others the reverse (Cassell). The private dwellings of 

 beavers bear marks of individuality of taste or otherwise in 

 their construction (Houzeau). 



Great variations exist in the character of common 



