312 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XXI. No. 540 



lectures, contributions from the laboratories of the University and 

 of the School of Mines, Bulletins of the Agricultural College, etc. 

 The latest of these omitted reports was found by me since the 

 publication of the Missouri bibliography, in the House journal of 

 the adjourned session of the twenty-sixth General Assembly, 

 1871-73, pp. 336-390, and I think it was not published except in 

 that journal. Its title is "Report of Progress of the State Geo- 

 logical Survey, from August 30, 1870, to March 13, 1872. By J. 

 G. Norwood, State Geologist, pro tem., State University, Col- 

 ombia, March 18, 1872." 



CHARACTER IN ANIMALS. 



BY W. C. BAKRKTT, M.D., D.D.S., BUFFALO, N. T. 



Man too often looks upon the lower orders as possessed of 

 nothing but selfish instincts and impulses, and as being moved 

 by nothing but animal appetites. He becomes a tyrant over 

 them, and never for a moment dreams that they can comprehend 

 his meanness and injustice. A little more of observation would 

 remove this impression. "Who that has been in close contact with 

 any class of animals but can call to mind instances of the exer- 

 cise of gratitude, real benevolence and magnanimity, that would 

 do honor to the noblest human beings? 



This is not confined to domestic animals, nor can the exhibi- 

 tion of special traits be attributed to their association with man. 

 It is a truth which no observer will deny, that some are quite in- 

 capable of affectionate impulses. They seem to have sufficient 

 intelligence, but like some men they are utterly and entirely 

 selfish, while others are even morose and vindictive. There is 

 as distinct and characteristic an individuality in their natures 

 as in that ot human creatures. It is an interesting exercise to 

 study these personal peculiarities even in wild animals, and to 

 detect the human traits which distinguish each. Birds that 

 seek the companionship of man exhibit a wide variation in indi- 

 viduality. It is not difficult to obtain the confidence and trust- 

 ing faith of some robins, for instance, while others are ever sus- 

 picious and distrustful. 



I was once possessed of a common red squirrel, that was caught 

 when but a few days old, and which had the most charming 

 personal characteristics imaginable. I never saw in any human 

 being a stronger and more marked individuality than this animal 

 possessed. It was as playful as a young kitten, and delighted in 

 the attentions of anyone of whom it was fond. It was as affec- 

 tionate and as demonstrative as ever I saw a young child. It 

 had withal a merry, playful mischievousness, that while it was 

 at times vexatious, made it seem almost human. It was allowed 

 to run about the rooms at will, and it found the most constant 

 delight in entangling a piece of knitting or other work, and, when 

 detected, in attaining some inaccessible height, then indulg- 

 ing in a chuckling kind of chatter. The chess table could never 

 be set out with the animal at liberty, but that when the players 

 became absorbed in the game and had forgotten all else, Jennie 

 would suddenly alight upon the table, scattering rooks and pawns 

 in every direction, and instantly disappearing up a curtain or 

 into some nook in the book-cases. This would be repeated as 

 often as the players forgot their surroundings, until it became 

 necessary to catch her and shut her up in her cage. One could 

 not lie down upon a couch, with a newspaper which he was read- 

 ing held aloft over the head, but that like a lightning flash Jennie 

 would light upon the paper or book,and instantly scramble away 

 to some safe place, where she would absolutely chuckle at the 

 success of the scheme. She never gnawed the furniture but once, 

 for she never forgot the punishment which this brought. 



She was subject to likes and dislikes, and every visitor who 

 entered the room was carefully scrutinized. If it was a lady 

 who was looked upon with favor, her hair was pretty sure to be 

 pulled down by the demonstrations of affection, and out of a 

 seeming pure love for good-natured mischief. If,, on the other 

 hand, the visitor was looked upon with distrust, he could never 

 get near the animal. It loved to fondle those who were its fa- 

 vorites, and exhibited the utmost affection for them. Indeed, its 

 attentions sometimes became too intrusive for comfort. 



One unlucky day an accident deprived poor Jennie ot her life, 

 and I obtained another, caught at quite as early an age, and 

 always treated with the same kindness and care. I had expected 

 another such charming pet, but there was no more similarity in 

 disposition than there might be between two utterly diverse chil- 

 dren. The second animal was morose, sullen, vindictive, in 

 every way disagreeable. The first one would never under any 

 circumstances attempt to bite, while the second was at least 

 always threatening it, and forever scolding and chattering, until 

 at last I gladly gave it freedom in the woods and obtained a suc- 

 cessor. 



This one was unlike either of the others. It was not playful 

 or affectionate, nor was it perverse and churlish. It was a com- 

 plete exemplification of the miser, and its whole character was 

 absorbed in its acquisitiveness. It was ever hunting for nuts and 

 other things which struck its fancy, usually articles of food, 

 which it carried away to a secret place in a closet. Occasionally 

 these were taken out by some member of the family and placed in 

 another room, for the purpose of watching the seeming exultation 

 with which the squirrel made their discovery, and the enjoyment 

 it appeared to take in carrying them away and again hiding them. 

 It would run back and forth with such extreme assiduity that it 

 would tire itself out and drop panting upon the floor, only after a 

 few moments' rest to recommence the task. If the newly-found 

 treasure were suddenly removed during its absence, there would 

 seem to be the most poignant disappointment. The animal would 

 for a time search anxiously for the vanished wealth, and then in 

 succession visit the members of the family who were present, 

 and seem to beseech its return, as if knowing that we were re- 

 sponsible for its loss. 



There was never a moment during the day which was not 

 spent in searching for something to add to its hidden possessions, 

 or in arranging and reari-anging its store. The animal, like some 

 men, was so utterly absorbed in its avariciousness, that it had no 

 time to devote to anything else. All affection was lost in its sor- 

 did nature. It had no special dislike for or fear of human be- 

 ings, yet it sought solitude, apparently to enjoy the contempla- 

 tion of its accumulations. It was unsocial, simply because of its 

 covetousness. No human mind ever exhibited a meaner avari- 

 ciousness, or a more parsimonious stinginess. It would suffer 

 for lack of food, rather than take one nut from its great posses- 

 sions. Its most salient characteristics were so disagreeable to 

 witness that I finally gave the animal away, and after several 

 other attempts gave up in despair that attempt to find another 

 such cheerful, engaging, affectionate, trusting pet as the first 

 one, being fully convinced that such characteristics are as rare 

 among squirrels as they are among men and women. 



CURRENT NOTES ON ANTHROPOLOGY. — XXIX. 



[Edited by D. O. Brinton, M.D., LL.D., D.Sc] 



Modifying Agents of Skull-Form. 



It looks now as if Broca, however eminent in many branches 

 of anthropology, was no wiser as a prophet than others of that 

 genus when he ventured this prediction : " The day will come 

 when the characteristics of all the races and their subdivisions 

 will be so well known, that the study of a series of skulls will be 

 sufficient to determine their origin." 



It is in pursuit of the realization of this dream that craniologists 

 have labored ever since, with the result that they are farther from 

 the goal than ever. Now, the wiser among them are turning 

 their attention rather to the history of the development of the 

 skull and its parts, both in the individual and, compai'atively, in 

 the realm of animal life, and not endeavoring to use it as a stan- 

 dard for the classification of races and peoples. It is found that 

 in certain instances the shape of the same skull varies materially 

 with the age of the individual; that the tendency to reversion to 

 one or the other type in the parents is by no means equal in all 

 cases; that there are marked correlations with greater strength, 

 viability, and sexual life, which give one or the other form an 

 advantage in a given milieu above its associate; that the prevail- 

 ing type of a geographical province seems to exert an influence 



