MAMMIFEROUS ANIMALS. 347 



pable of being taught, as merely mechanical, the 

 result of coersion, and of subsequent habit. 

 But what would Man have been without exam- 

 ple and instruction, of which it is his capability 

 alone that renders him susceptible? And how 

 does it happen, that so overwhelming a propor- 

 tion of the brute species, is totally incapable of 

 being taught even the most common actions; 

 while a few others, from their quick apprehen- 

 sion can readily be instructed in a variety of 

 movements, and can understand by word of 

 mouth, by a sign, or by a look, what particular 

 action they are to perform, and vary them ac- 

 cording to circumstances, or even produce the 

 same actions, as it shall please them, when no 

 command has been given? This ready appre- 

 hension therefore, I should denominate, Intel- 

 ligence, to distinguish it from Instinct, or from 

 being the result of merely acquired habits ; 

 though it is far removed from that higher order 

 of Intellect, denominated Reason, which, leading 

 to a just application of animal actions to the 

 most useful purposes as suggested by reflection, 

 is rarely to be met with but in the human spe- 

 cies. It is the first kind of intelligence as pro- 

 duced by a ready apprehension that the Elephant 

 possesses in so preeminent a degree, and such as 

 perhaps not often to be equalled by any other 

 quadruped ; and if with this, we allow him a 

 limited share of reflection, we shall probably have| 



