SENSITIVENESS. 297 



by look, voice, caress, conversation or music. The peasants 

 of Cornwall used, about the beginning of the present century, 

 to cheer their plough oxen 'with conversation, denoting 

 approbation and pleasure ' conveyed in a sort of chant, ex- 

 pressive of tenderness and affection, says the Eev. Eichard 

 Warner, of Bath (' Animal World '). And numerous are the 

 recorded instances of the beneficial effects of music, vocal or 

 instrumental, 011 cattle, sheep, goats, horses, elephants and 

 other animals. Encouragement is required in the use, as in 

 the training, of sporting dogs (Walsh). The horse is readily 

 cheered by the voice of its rider or driver (Low). 



On the other hand, discouragement, or the simple want 

 of encouragement, begets peevishness ; and punishment, 

 especially when habitual, cruel and unjust or dispropor- 

 tionate, produces results of a much more serious kind. In 

 the young horse, especially if high-bred, punishment is apt 

 to produce dejection or broken spirits (Pierquin). Castiga- 

 tion, particularly if habitual, produces nervousness, frequently 

 intense in degree : even the mere fear of this or other forms 

 of punishment may produce the same result (Youatt). 

 Forming apparently, as does also the dog, strong opinions as 

 to the propriety or justice, impropriety or injustice of the 

 punishment inflicted on it by its tyrant man it protests, 

 like the dog, against unmerited chastisement (Youatt). 



So fond are they of notice or attention on man's part, 

 that many pet animals suffer for, and from his mere neglect 

 or indifference, and they are apt to construe into slights a 

 simple want of attention caused by pre-occupation or non- 

 consideration. The spaniel and other dogs petition for man's 

 regard. Man's neglect may lead to mental depression, even 

 of a permanent and serious kind, in the dog (Cobbe), which 

 keenly feels what he considers non-appreciation by his 

 master ('Animal World'). Slight or neglect from him, 

 whether real or imaginary, preys on its mind (Blaine) 

 such is the longing or hungering for his love ; just as it 

 does in children that crave, in the same way, perpetual 

 caresses or other signs of regard. Many pet dogs and other 

 animals find it impossible to endure insignificance (Helps). 

 * Aut Caesar, aut nullus,' seems to be their feeling : they must 



