92 
I need not say that any suggestions coming from an 
observer of such experience as M. Houzeau deserve the 
attention of the now many earnest students of the subject 
of “ Mind in the Lower Animals ;” and I therefore make 
no apology for bringing under the notice of your readers 
certain remarks contained in the letter aforesaid. 
In the first place, M. Houzeau begs to direct attention 
to “the high importance of sparing—at least for observa- 
tion—what remains of anthropoid animals in Asia and 
Africa. It is my deep regret that there are none in the 
country where I live” (Jamaica) ; “and that I am thereby 
deprived of an opportunity to study them. They should 
be tamed, domesticated, and studied in their own climate— 
athome. The gorilla, for instance, should be perpetuated 
in Guinea in domesticity. As I stated in my book, it 
does not appear impossible that apes might Icarn to talk. 
Should the attempt succeed even partially, what would 
not be the bearing and importance of it physiologically 
and historically? Could not some means of study be 
devised in the English colonies? To save the Anthro- 
poids from destruction, and to promote the study of 
their mental capacity, is worthy surely.of the earnest 
exertions of naturalists.” ‘ Wey 
I quite concur with him as to the desirability of edu- 
cating by domestication—so far as possible, and studying 
the results of such education in the anthropoid apes, and 
indeed the whole group of the Quadrumana. We know 
what has been the result in the dog of centuries of asso- 
ciation with, and training by, man ; though even in that 
familiar animal we do not yet know the extent of his 
capabilities, because training in certain directions has 
scarcely been attempted. Man has, for his own ends, 
directed special attention and effort to the development, 
in the dog, of his power of scent, swiftness, vision, courage, 
watchfulness, and other qualities that render him useful in 
the chase, as a watch-animal, as a companion, and so 
forth. But no similar persistent efforts have been made 
to cultivate, for instance, his moral sense—to produce 
an animal good in a moral point of view—honest, affec- 
tionate, benevolent, conscientious, in the highest degree. 
And yet that it is quite as possible to produce or educe 
moral greatness or goodness as physicalswiftness or muscu- 
lar strength, I am firmly persuaded. Notwithstanding all 
that has been said of the superior intelligence of the dog, 
horse, elephant, ant, and bee, I believe that were as much 
care bestowed on the training of the moral qualities of 
many monkeys or apes as is given to the instruction of the 
pointer or setter, the homing pigeon, piping bullfinch, 
or talking parrot, or to the training of the race-horse, re- 
sults of a startling kind would be attained, or would be 
shown to be attainable. There are certain respects in 
which apes and monkeys approach more closely to man 
than do the dog or the other animals just mentioned : 
they possess potentialities or capabilities of which some 
of the almost marvellous stories told us by reputable 
traveller-naturalists give us but a glimpse. 
I cannot, however, discuss that or other subjects in 
comparative psychology here, hoping, as I do, to have 
fuller and more fitting opportunity in a forthcoming 
volume of the “International Scientific Series ” of Messrs. 
H. S. King and Co. 
M. Houzeau expresses surprise that, at the present day, 
the belief should be almost universal that, while all 
races and conditions of man have souls, the best of other 
animals have none. This is obviously a matter of pure 
speculation, which I must not now discuss. ButI may 
direct the attention of your readers to a curious book pub- 
lished in Aberdeen in 1824, by Peter Buchan, entitled, 
“Scriptural and Philosophical Arguments or Cogent 
Proofs from Reason and Revelation that Brutes have Souls, 
and that their Souls are Immortal.” The workin question 
is, however, now so rare, that it may be difficult to obtain 
even a perusal of it. The reader of German literature 
may also refer to a book on the same subject by 
NATURE 
[May 20, 1873 
Schmarda, to which my attention was called some time 
ago by the late Professor Day, of St. Andrews. 
M. Houzeau animadverts on the anomaly that the 
persons, from whom we should expect the most valuable 
evidence regarding the mental acquirements or capacities 
of the lower animals—those who are habitually and in- 
timately associated with them—drovers and drivers, 
horsemen and huntsmen, shepherds and _ sportsmen, 
jockeys and grooms, butchers, and even veterinarians, are 
those, on the contrary, in whom we too frequently meet 
with the strangest ignorance or prejudice. They would 
seem to be, as a rule, incapable of honestly observing and 
of making logical inferences from facts observed ; instead 
of using their own eyes and reason, they permit themselves © 
to be blinded and befooled by obsolete tradition or fable. 
Notwithstanding the perfectly overwhelming bulk and 
variety of the literature of comparative psychology—or at 
least of the data on which it may be founded, there are 
many points in the mental history of the lower animals 
that require and admit of elucidation by observation and 
experiment. If any person of ordinary intelligence— 
either abroad or at home—feels inclined to plead, as an 
excuse from contributing to the progress of comparative 
psychology, the want of proper opportunity, I would 
commend to his consideration the example of M. Houzeau 
as a noble one of the successful “pursuit of knowledge 
under difficulties.” He modestly describes himself as a 
traveller-naturalist ; and in the letter above referred to 
thus refers to the circumstances under which he collected 
the materials for the two bulky volumes of Etudes, that 
constitute one of the most important contributions yet 
made to the science of comparative psychology. “It 
was rather occasionally that my attention was called to 
the subject of the ‘Mental faculties of animals,’ having 
been almost exclusively engaged, previous to my sojourn 
in America, in astronomical and geographical pursuits. 
Still the subject was pressed upon me when, in the wil- 
dernesses of Texas and Northern Mexico, I had to live 
in the open air, in the constant company of domestic 
animals and in close proximity to wild ones ; far away,” as 
he says, “from the European field of labour and even 
from intellectual resources,” in a foreign wild land, without 
the means of literary or scientific reference. Under cir- 
cumstances, in a word, most unfavourable to such a publi- 
cation, he has nevertheless produced a work that would 
do honour to any of our own savazs, with all the appliances 
-of our large cities, large societies, and large libraries at 
their command. W. LAUDER LINDSAY 
NOTES 
FREE admission to the lectures and courses of practical in- 
struction in Chemistry, Physics, Mechanics, and Biology at 
South Kensington will be granted to a limited number of Teachers 
and Students of Science Classes under the Science and Art De- 
partment, who intend to become Science Teachers, The selected 
candidates will also receive a travelling allowance, and a main- 
tenance allowance of 1/, Is. per week, while required to be pre- 
sent in London. The course in Chemistry will commence in 
October, and end in the following June. The course in Biology 
will commence in October and close in February or March. 
The course in Physics will commence about February and close 
in June. The course in Mechanics will probably commence 
about February and close in June. Students are required to 
attend from 9 or 10 A.M, to 4. or 5 P.M. daily, in addition to the 
time required in the evening for writing up their notes, &c. 
Candidates for these Studentships must send in their applica- 
tions on Science Form No. 400, copies of which may be 
obtained on application to the Secretary of the Science and Art 
Department. For the courses in Biology and in Mechanics some 
power of drawing is essential, and no candidate will be ad- 
mitted who cannot show that he has acquired sufficient power. 
7 
’ 
7 
4 
