48 



FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 



state. Being very much larger than the Wild Boar, and at the same time much 

 more docile, it would yield domestic races of far greater value than the common Pig, 

 and of a different quality. Yet, as it presents but few means of defence, this valu- 

 able animal is gradually becoming more scarce in America, where it is in great de- 

 mand for the delicious flavor of its flesh as an article of food. It is probable that 

 this important race, if not previously domesticated, ' will become totally extinct as 

 America becomes more peopled. 



All the different kinds of Solipeda might be rendered, with care, as domestic as 

 the Horse or the Ass. The training and breeding of the Zebra (Eqtius Zehra)^ 

 the Quagga (£. Couagga), the Dauw (^E. Montanus), the Dzhiggtai (E. Hanionus^, 

 would be a useful labor to society, and probably a lucrative midertaking for the pro- 

 jectors. 



Neai'ly all the Ruminantia are social animals, living together in troops, and thus 

 most of the species of this numerous tribe are fitted by their Nature to become domes- 

 ticated. There is at present one species, perhaps two, which are now only partially 

 domesticated in South America, and are nearly unknown in our climates. This is 

 much to be regretted, as they would yield fleeces of great fineness, and at the same 

 time be useful as beasts of burthen. The Alpaca (^Auchenia paco)j and the Vicugna 

 (Auchenia vicugna), are more than twice as large as the largest races of our Sheep. 

 The qualities of their fleece are very different from those of the ordinary wool, and 

 might be made into stuffs possessing an intermediate quality between wool and silk. 

 This would certainly give rise to a new branch of industry, and serve to extend the 

 commerce of our nation. 



It has often been objected to the domestication of animals inhabiting warm coun- 

 tries, that the difference of climate would form with us an insurmountable difficulty. 

 This error might have been avoided, if the objectors had been more aware of the re- 

 sources of Nature in adapting animals to differences of temperature, as well as of our 

 extensive influence over all living beings. In reference to the Alpaca and Vicugna 

 this difficulty could not exist, and the objection resolves itself into mere ignorance of 

 their habitat ; for these animals reside only on the very temperate parts of the Andes, in 

 Peru and Chile. It is not even applicable to the Tapir, although originally from the 

 warmest climates. 



The natiu-e of domestication has now been fully explained. "We have seen that its 

 foundation exists in the natural disposition of animals to live together in herds or 

 troops, and to form mutual attachments ; — that it can only be induced by kindness, 

 chiefly by augmenting their wants and afterwards satisiying them. Yet, by these 

 means, we could only produce domestic individuals and not domestic races, if we were 

 not aided by one of the most general laws of living beings, — the power of transmitting 

 their organic and intellectual modifications to their posterity. This is one of the 

 most remai'kable phenomena of Nature, and well worthy of profound attention. That 

 an accidental modification of the body should become a permanent alteration of form 

 is extraordinary, but that a passing desire or habit should become, in the course of 

 time, an original instinct, is without doubt altogether astonishing. 



We have also seen the importance of studying animals in captivity, as connected 

 with the progress of Zoological science. However the study of wild animals may 

 serve to point out the part they have to play on the great theatre of Nature, it totally 

 fails to discover their faculties and dispositions : we must resort to captive animals for 

 this information. If it were true that animals must be examined when at liberty in 

 order to ascertain their Nature, then the advancement of this branch of science is 

 hopeless, as the difficulties of studying wild animals are so great as to be equivalent in 

 practice to an impossibility. When at liberty they view with distrust every person 

 whom they do not know, and either fly fi'om or attack all who molest them. Again, 

 animals could not be examined in savage and remote countries with which we arc 

 altogether unacquainted. The mere circumstance of pursuing an animal alters its ori- 

 ginal condition, and even then its natural state is as mux:h disturbed as if it were really 

 in captivity. 



If it be true that the state of an animal, in whatever part of the eai'th it may be 

 placed, is the natural consequence of the faculties and instincts imparted by its Crea- 

 tor, it follows, that if we have ascertained the latter, we may predict the former. 

 As soon as we know exactly the general faculties and dispositions of the species, it 

 is easy to state how it will act in every situation in which it can be placed. It be- 

 comes no longer necessary for us to follow the animal into the details of its existence, 

 to visit the country of its residence, to find it out, and to hunt it down. Having 

 once ascertained its Nature by Analysis, we can then apply the principles thus estab- 

 lished Synthetically to every other possible case. This is the way in which all the 

 sciences proceed, and Zoology can be properly cultivated only when it follows a simi- 

 lai' course. 



Under whatever view the subject may be considered, we must arrive at one con- 

 clusion — that the examination of animals in Menageries or Zoological Gardens is, 

 of all methods, the best for studying and knowing them, as they ought to be investi- 

 gated by the lover of Nature. 



GENERAL REVIEW OF THE MAMMALIA CONTINUEH. 



Analysis of the principles lohich guide the actions of Animals — Intelligence and In^ 

 stinct — Effect of Habit in transforming the character of Actions — Intelligence of 

 the higher Animals compared with that of Man. 



Before entering upon an analysis of the inward principles which determine the ac- 

 tions of animals, it must, in the first place, be recollected, that our knowledge of the 

 intellects or sensations of animals will rest ultimately upon the consciousness of 

 what passes in our own minds. It is only by examining that internal hght which we 

 possess within ourselves that we can arrive at any satisfactory conclusion. We com- 

 pare our own actions with theirs; we are conscious of the internal cause which incites 

 us to act, and we infer a similai* cause in the animal. Should the Creator have be- 



stowed a faculty to animals altogether different from those we are conscious of possess- 

 ing, it must remain concealed for ever from our thoughts. The boundaries of our 

 own intellectual world form the limits of oui- knowledge regarding the causes which 

 produce the actions of animals. 



Some of the principles which urge Mammalia to act are evidently of the simplest kind. 

 The cries of an Infant when in pain, or in want of assistance, — the determination of 

 a newly-born animal to the breast and the action of sucking, — the flight of a young 

 animal when influenced by fear, although it has had no experience of danger, — its 

 resistance when we attempt to seize it, — the attention of an animal just born to the 

 cries of its mother, are all actions of this kind. Whether simple or complex, they 

 arise previous to all experience; and have been regarded, by the common consent of 

 all Naturalists, as purely Instinctive. They proceed from an irresistible and uniform 

 internal power, which leads invariably to the same course of action. 



But all the actions of animals are not of this uniform description. The Dog obeys 

 and does not fly from the whip which his master raises to chastise him. He seeks 

 for the object which has been pointed out, instead of remaining indifferent to the 

 order he has received. If he be confined in a cage with wooden bars, he is agitated 

 with rage and attempts to destroy them ; but if they are made of iron, he lies down 

 resigned to his confinement. All these actions are Intelligent ; and it is the very 

 nature of this Intelligence that it is capable of being modified by experience, and of 

 conforming itself to the variable circumstances which incite it to act. 



Other instances of Intelligence may be mentioned. When a Horse has to choose 

 between two roads, of which one is known to him, he always takes the latter, however 

 long the period of time since he may have travelled thereon. The Dog leaps before 

 his master, and loads him with caresses, when he sees him preparing to go out, and 

 wishes to accoihpany him. The same animal confines the flock, which has been en- 

 trusted to his care, within the precise limits marked out by his master. The Wolf 

 attacks his prey openly and by force when in the recesses of the forest ; but, if he 

 be in the neighbourhood of a village, he approaches it cautiously, and attacks it by 

 surprise. 



All these actions are evidently Intelhgent, and not -Instinctive. The slightest cir- 

 cumstance would have induced the Horse to take the road which he had not previously 

 travelled. If the Dog, by his disobedience, had offended his master, instead of leap- 

 ing before him with joy, he would crouch and tremble at his feet. We also know 

 that he acquires the remarkable talent of guarding the flock entirely from a previous ' 

 education, and in being trained expressly for that purpose. 



. On the contrary, it is the common character of Instinctive actions to be fixed and' 

 invariable ; to be constantly produced by the same causes and the same conditions. 

 We accordingly consider the following actions as Instinctive ; — the Dog, when he 

 hides under ground the remains of his meal; — the Horse and Reindeer, when they 

 remove with their hoofs the snow which covers the earth, to expose the food of which 

 they are in want; — the Cows, when they come together in a circle, upon the approach 

 of an enemy, with their heads and horns in the circumference, and their calves in 



the centre; — the Beavers, when they build cabins and construct dikes, when they 



cut the wood necessary for their edifices, and repair the ravages which time or an 

 enemy has occasioned to their buildings ; — the Rabbit, when it excavates its burrow; 

 . — the Bird, when it constructs ^its nest. All these actions, and many others, are 

 presented to us with a certain degree of uniformity, essentially the same in all its 

 more important particulars. The Dog hides his food with the same blind Instinct, ' 

 although its superabundant supply renders such a precaution unnecessary. The 

 Horse or Reindeer that uncovers the grass or moss concealed under the snow, 

 does the same thing when he sees the snow for the first time, and prior to all expe- 

 rience; he acts in the same manner after a meal as when oppressed with hunger. 

 The Beaver builds in all situations, under the closest confinement as well as when in 

 the enjoyment of the greatest liberty ; when in the possession of the most comfortable 

 abode, as well as when in want of all shelter. The Cows, which exhibit so much 

 ingenuity in defending their young when in a herd, do not change their plan of de- 

 fence though surprised in a small party, and when this method becomes wholly insufli- 

 cient. The Rabbit which takes so much pains to bxu-row its retreat, knows not how 

 to conceal it, or to adapt its construction to the changes of the seasons, to the cir- 

 cumstances of the place, or to the nature of its enemies. The lower classes of ani. 

 mals present instances still more striking and extraordinary of the blindness of their 

 Instincts. 



Upon considering all the Instinctive actions of animals, we find that these are of a 

 nature very different from their Intelligent acts. Instincts are exercised or exhibit 

 themselves only at certain periods; they are always of a limited number in each species, 

 but they go on increasing greatly in number and importance among the lower classes 

 of animals, generally in proportion as their organization differs from that of the human 

 race. 



Numerous instances might be adduced in support of these views. We at once per- ' 

 ceive an immense difference between those intelligent actions which have already 'been 

 enumerated, alike remarkable for their complexity, and those involuntary Instincts, 

 dways of great simplicity, which are occasioned by fear, passion, desire, or hunger. The ' 

 latter seem purely organic, — that is, they result from the direct influence of a superior ' 

 Power, — while, to the former. Intelligence appears indispensable. It is also only at ' 

 certain periods, and for a limited time, that these animals seek their females, prepare 

 their abodes, or construct their nests. The Dog, the Horse, and the Bull present ■ 

 few actions which can be regarded as instinctive; yet their lives pass on with consi- 

 derable activity. Their intelligent actions nearly fill up their entire course, and are T 

 suf&cient for the numerous situations in which they are placed. We can perceive a • 

 trace, among the Mammalia, of that diminution of Intelligence which results from 

 the prevalence of the Instinctive acts. The Dog presents a great number of Intelli- 

 gent actions, and only a small number of Instincts, The Bull, on the contrary, leads 

 an active life within very narrow hmits ; and though his Instincts are not positively 

 numerous, they become relatively so, when compared with the very small number of 

 his intelhgent actions. 



But the marked difference between Intelligence and Instinct becomes still more 

 striking when we extend our views beyond the limits of the MammaUa, and consider 



