Mind in the Loiver Animals. 175 



" How is it possible," says the author of the anecdote, to ' re- 

 fer the proceedings of this animal to mere instinct? Had a negro 

 slave performed them, we should have used them (and with per- 

 fect justice) as arguments, that so intellectual and trustworthy a 

 man ought not to be the jDroperty of an irresponsible master.' 



" The whole behavior of the dog is exactly like that of a burly, 

 kindly and rugged barger, possessed of cool judgment and rapid 

 action, willing to risk his life for another, and then to make light 

 of the whole business. 



''The process of reasoning that took place in the dog's mind is 

 as evident as if the brain had been that of a man and not a dog. 

 The animal exhibited self-denial, presence of mind, and fore- 

 thought. Had he jumped into the water at once, he could not 

 have caught the little dog ; but by galloping down the stream, 

 getting ahead of the drowning animal, and then stemming the cur- 

 rent until it was swept within his reach, he made sure of his ob- 

 ject ; and no man could have done better if he had tried to save 

 a drowning child ?" 



There are hundreds of cases, from among not only the almost 

 innumerable species of lower animals, but also, so to speak, of the 

 higher, such as birds of many kinds, cats, dogs, horses, elephants, 

 and monkeys. But, manifestly, I cannot refer to them to-night; 

 nor. indeed, is it necessary to do so after what has been said, and 

 when it is remembered that it is probably true that there is not 

 one person present but has had opportunities for making interest- 

 ing personal observations bearing on this question. 



Contenting myself, therefore, I will pass at once to a discussion 

 of the subject in various of its aspects. For my own part, I am 

 led to hold to the position provisionally, that the lower animals are 

 possessed of minds, the same in kind as those of men. I haye 

 said, this is my provisional opinion, for it has become, after much 

 endeavor, a habit of mine to adopt opinions with care, and if 

 not well founded, to try and remember that they are not well 

 founded. Such opinions I try to be ready to drop at the first 

 occasion which seems truly to require me to do so, even if I am left 

 without opinions, as, indeed, I have come to be, in relation to 

 many things. I will now proceed to give you some of the rea- 



