248 VESTIGES OF THE 



will endeavour to obtain their liberation by pulling a 

 latch or rinffingf a bell. It has several times been observed 

 that in a field of cattle, when one or two were mischievous, 

 and persisted long in annoying or tyrannizing over the 

 rest, the herd, to all appearance, consulted, and then, 

 making a united effort drove the troublers oft' the ground. 

 The members of a rookeiy have also been observed to 

 take turns in supplying the needs of a family reduced to 

 orphanhood. All of these are acts of reason, in no 

 respect different from similar acts of men. Moreover, 

 although there is no heritage of accumulated knowledge 

 amongst the lower animals, as there is amongst us, they 

 are in some degree susceptible of those modifications of 

 natural character, and capable of those accomplishments, 

 which we call education. The taming and domestication 

 of animals, and the changes thus produced upon their 

 nature in the course of generations, are results identical 

 with civilisation amongst ourselves ; and the quiet, servile 

 steer is probably as unlike the original wild cattle of this 

 country, as the English gentleman of the present day is 

 unlike the rude baron of the age of King John. Between 

 a young, unbroken horse, and a trained one, there is, 

 again, all the difterence which exists between a wild 

 youth reared at his own discretion in the country, and 

 the same person when he has been toned down by long 

 exposure to the influences of refined society. On the 

 accomplishments acquired by animals it were superfluous 

 to enter at any length ; but I may advert to the dogs of 

 M. Leonard, as remarkable examples of what the animal 

 intellect may be trained to. When four pieces of card 

 are laid down before them, each having a number pro- 

 nounced once in connexion with it, they will, after a 

 re-arrangement of the pieces, select any one named by 

 its number. They also play at dominoes, and with so 



