394 SELF-SUBMISSION OF ANIMALS TO 



it is notorious that even captious dogs make ample allowance 

 for the thoughtlessness and helplessness of human infancy. 



3. A clear perception of the nature and extent of danger, 

 and of the different kinds of danger, including 



a. Sometimes a decided preference of one (minor) to 



another (major) risk. 



b. A consideration of the various means whereby danger 



may be avoided or escaped from. They discriminate 

 between a certain enemy, or danger, and a possible 

 friend, or safety. 



4. The ready conveyance of intelligence of events, the com- 

 munication to each other of their desires or wants, the ar- 

 ranging of plans, bargains, or compacts. 



5. Willingness to help each other ; good nature in bestow- 

 ing aid where and when asked and required ; the rendering 

 of mutual assistance appropriate as to time and character. 



6. Knowledge of the use or object of emetics and purga- 

 tives, as well as of the nature of wounds, and of remedies and 

 their action, whether medical, medicinal, or surgical. 



Possibly the dog and other animals recognise or understand 

 the nature, or at least the dangerousness, of some of their 

 own diseases a knowledge which leads, for instance, to avoid- 

 ance of diseased fellows. They would appear to be acquainted 

 with the fact of the contagiousness of certain diseases ; that 

 contact with, or contiguity to, animals showing certain 

 symptoms may develop like bodily disorder in themselves. 

 At all events, we are told that hounds, for example, fre- 

 quently show very decided fear of their rabid companions 

 (Fleming) ; and that a sheep, when affected by a fatal form 

 of dysentery locally known (in the southern highlands of 

 Scotland) as c breakshugh,' ' instantly withdraws from all the 

 rest, shunning their society with the greatest care. It even 

 hides itself, and is often hard to be found ' (Hogg) . 



Here, then, are two cases of an opposite kind ; the hounds 

 avoiding the diseased individual, and the diseased sheep 

 isolating itself from the sound members of the flock. This 

 avoidance or isolation if and where it exists may very 

 readily and naturally arise from the biting or other dangerous 

 or singular habits of their companions. But from what we 



