52, 



FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 



runs at full speed to the spot. As soon as they perceive him, order is itnmediately 

 restored ; and if he catches any of them fighting, he separates them, and makes an 

 example of the refractory animals by immediate punishment. I may mention another 

 instance of his influence over his posterity. For having always accustomed them to 

 go into their holes on blowing a whistle, whenever I give the signal, however distant 

 they may be, I observe the old grandfather to place himself at their head, and though 

 he arrives fu-st at the holes, he makes all the others defile in before him, and is always 

 the last to go in himself." 



It cannot be said that this authority on the one hand, and submission on the other, 

 are instinctive. They depend upon accidental and variable causes. They often pre- 

 sent opposite featm-es in the same individual ; and even the slightest change in the 

 external appearance of the animals is sufficient to dissolve all harmony between them. 

 A trifling circumstance of this kind would cause them not to know each other, and 

 to recommence their battles. If two Rams which have long lived together in the 

 most perfect harmony be shorn, they look at each other with fury, and rush together 

 with such violence, that unless separated, they will fight until one of them either flies 

 or remains dead on the spot. A boy belonging to the Menagerie du Jioi nearly lost 

 his life only from changing his dress. He had acquired an absolute authority over a 

 Bison from North America. His command alone was suflBcient to make this power- 

 ful animal go in or out of his stable, and the mere presence of the Boy made him 

 tremble. . One day having obtained from the tailor a new suit of clothes, a little dif- 

 ferent in its colour and shape from that which he habitually wore, he went into the 

 stable to perform some service for the animal, when the latter, having looked at him 

 attentively for some time, made a sudden attack ; and the young lad would certainly 

 have been killed, if he had not had the agility to leap over the gate of the ward into 

 which he had so imprudently entered. Having thus escaped, and suspecting the cause 

 of this unexpected attack, he resumed his usual clothes. The animal immediately re- 

 co^rnized him, and regained his former fear and docility. 



• Force, however, exercises a very important influence in all animal societies. We 

 even see its influence in places where it might be expected that Nature would oppose 

 some obstacle. In a flock of Goats, the She-Goat exhibits a remarkable care for her 

 younn-, and is ready to defend them with her hfe from the attack of any stranger. 

 But if one of her kids receive blows from any of the other Goats of her own flock, 

 she shows no opposition to their violence, and takes no notice of the cries of her young 

 one, provided that they proceed only from the blows of the other members of her 

 society. 



Cunnino- is so often the attendant of weakness, that we may readily expect all 

 the young animals of a herd will possess a great share of it. M. F. Cuvier observed 

 a remarkable instance of this in the conduct of a young Rhesus Rlonkey towards his 

 mother. Although she treated him in the most affectionate manner while he was 

 suckling, she would never allow him to eat any thing. He could obtain nothing ex- 

 cept by stealth ; and even after he had filled his pouches, she would compel him to 

 disgorge. In this way, the skill and cunning of the young Blonkey became 

 developed in a surprising degree. He used to watch the moment for seizing his food, 

 when his mother was about to turn her head or eyes, and he always anticipated her 

 movements with remarkable accuracy. 



It may readily be expected that a herd will separate when famine prevails. Then each 

 animal is attentive only to its ovm preservation. Some species and individuals even 

 devour each other if driven to extremities. This takes place among the Rats (A/zds), 

 and also, it has been said, among the Field Mice (Arvicola). A dissolution of the 

 society likewise occurs, when one of the Instincts essential to its existence cannot be 

 exercised. In densely-peopled countries, the Beavers, instead of constructing habita 

 tions, lead a solitary life in the natm-al excavations of the rocks on the banks of lakes 

 or rivers. 



These several facts entirely confirm the correctness of those general views which 

 have here been laid do^vn regarding the Social Instincts of animals; and M. F. Cuvier 

 has contributed more, by his talents and industry, to expose the character and manners 

 of the Mammalia, than perhaps any other Naturalist. 



The preceding observations serve to show that there results from the instinctive 

 union of several individuals in herds or troops, a certain mutual dependence, which 

 passes into a habit, and becomes a necessary of life. The authority of one animal 

 over the other originates in force, but when once established, it is maintained by 

 confidence, until passions more powerful than the social instinct arise, and snatch the 

 authority fi'om the chief, to vest it in a stronger and more courageous individual. It 

 is in these mingled states of peace and war that the greater number of animal societies 

 pass their existence, and they are dissolved when the instinct of self-preservation 

 becomes more powerful in each individual than the Social Instinct. ; 



Societies of this description have nothing either Intellectual or Moral in their 

 constitution. We view, with mingled feelings of astonishment and admiration, a state 

 of things in which authority is maintained without force, where harmony exists 

 'without the influence of Reason, and a vai'iety of opposite wants and desires, without 

 discord or dissension. We can ascribe this solely to the great First Cause of all things. 

 The animals themselves take no active part in it, and are, under this view of the sub- 

 ject, but the blind and passive instruments in the hand of an invisible and all-pow'er- 

 ful Being. 



When Societies of Men approach this passive state, they bear a great resemblance 

 in character to animal societies. It is sad to think that human nature can exist in 

 . such a state of degradation ; yet the accounts of enlightened travellers inform us that 

 the savages of New Holland, for example, lead nearly the same kind of animal life, 

 where those faculties, which distinguish Man from the other Mammalia, have scarcely 

 received any development. 



. It is only when the activity of Man is roused, that the mere animal societies, which 

 V.C have here described, assume a new appearance. Phenomena of habit then become 

 phenomena of conscience. Tiie same action which was formerly produced by mere 

 hkings or necessities, now results from the light of Reason. The authority of the 

 stron"" and the submission of the weak become ennobled by the feeling of Duty. 

 Thus Society, which among the other jMammalia is purely Instinctive, is transformed 

 Yfitb. civilized Man into an Intellectual and jMoral condition. 



GENERAL EEVIEW OF THE MAMMALIA CONTINUHD. 



Tame Races have become wild — Alterations and Development of their Instincts and 

 Intelligence under Domestication — Sensihilitg — Imitation — Sympathy — Inca^ 

 pacity to distinguish between Justice and Injustice* 



The Intelligent Powers and Instincts of the Mammalia, which have formed the sub- 

 ject of the preceding sections, may be made to undergo various modifications and 

 alterations. There is a certain degree of perfectibility connected with each animal 

 nature, and the changes induced may either aff'ect individuals only, or be also capable 

 of being transmitted permanently to their posterity. Hence arise the peculiar In- 

 stincts and Intelligence of the different races or varieties of a given species. 



When the animals of an uninhabited country first encounter Man, they exhibit no fear 

 of his power, nor do they seem apprehensive of danger. The early navigators of the 

 South Seas often allude to this innocent confidence of the Mammalia and Birds. Dr 

 Richardson found the wild Sheep of the Rocky Mountains exhibiting that simplicity 

 of character so often remarked in the domestic animals ; and, in the retired parts of 

 the mountains, where the hunters seldom penetrate, he had no difficulty in approach- 

 ing them. He adds, *' where they have been often fired at, they are exceedingly 

 wild ; they alarm their companions on the approach of danger by a hissing noise, and 

 scale the rocks with a speed and agility that baffles pursuit." But the young of all 

 Mammalia, which have been much exposed to persecution, exhibit an Instinctive fear 

 for strangers ; and this acquired Instinct, perpetuated by generation, may be induced 

 as well by any of the larger and fiercer Carnassiers as by Man. Thus Danger, 

 whether proceeding from Man or other animals, may perform the converse of Domes- 

 tication, and render those races wholly wild which had originally been tame. 



It has been often observed, that a certain resemblance exists between the characters 

 of some classes of Men, and of the animals with v/hom they habitually associate ; for 

 example, between the Drover and his Oxen, the Shepherd and his Sheep, the 

 Muleteer and his Mules, the Arab and his Steed. This modification is usually supposed 

 to have been undergone solely by the Man ; but this is not strictly correct, as the 

 characters of the animals themselves insensibly approach that of their master and 

 companion. 



^lian has long ago observed the curious fact, that the domestic animals, and espe- 

 cially the Dog, acquire the faults and good qualities of the society to which they be- 

 long. *' The Molossian Dog," he remarks, *' is the bravest, while that of Caramania, 

 like the people of that nation, is the most ferocious and the least susceptible of Domes- 

 tication." On comparing English Horses and Dogs with those of French origin, M. 

 Dureau de La Malle observed certain well-marked national peculiarities which confirm 

 the truth of JElian's remark. In this way the habits and manners of the domestic 

 animals may form an index to the civihzation of a great nation. Even among the 

 different grades of society in the same country, we find the animals adopting the 

 peculiarities of their masters, and acquiring traces of their vices as well as virtues. 

 The Dog which becomes so dainty when brought up in a Lady's chamber, is ferocious 

 with the Butcher, submissive in ihe poor man's cabin, or thieving and cringing with 

 the beggar. When standing at the Nobleman's lodge, he even adopts the tone and 

 manners of the great man's porter. M. Edwards tells us that he has often seen Dogs, 

 educated by weak females, become excessively timid, and that this timidity was trans- 

 mitted to their offspring. A Terrier-dog, born in the house of M. de La Malle, and 

 treated like a spoiled child by a kind-hearted woman, who amused herself with speak- 

 ing to it all day, had its sensibility brought at six months old to such a state, that when 

 its mistress caressed the Cat, or pretended to scold the little animal, its large eyes 

 would fill with tears, and it would end by crying like an infant. 



In the wild and savage state, the lower animals and Man are possessed of much less 

 sensibility than when domesticated or civilized. They also retain a much greater phy- 

 sical power in resisting pain, and can endure without complaints the pangs of sickness, 

 of deadly wounds, and all the evils arising from their original constitution or their want 

 of civilization. The fortitude with which the savages of North America and of New 

 Zealand endure torments is well-known. According to Azara, the Charruas, a savage 

 race of Paraguay, do not utter a complaint even while under the knives of their enemies. 

 This feebleness and want of fortitude in civilized nations has many points of ana- 

 logy among the Wolves, Foxes, and proper Dogs, when they are placed in similar 

 circumstances. The domestic Dog raises a most hideous yelping if a person tread on 

 his paws, pinch his ears, or give him a whipping ; but if the wild Dog, the Fox, and 

 the Wolf be wounded or taken in a trap, they suffer the sharpest pangs without utter- 

 ing a cry, and expire without groans, in the midst of the most cruel torments. The 

 observed habits of the Dingo, or wild Dog of New Holland, perhaps the wildest of 

 the species, bear the same relation to the domestic Dog in the scale of sensibility. 



The ancient Greeks and Romans endured pain more patiently than the moderns. 

 The Turks have nearly the same fortitude, and the differences among the tenets 

 of Paganism, Islamism, and our own, ai-e not the sole cause; for the colonists of 

 Africa, America, and New Holland, and the sturdy peasants of our own country, 

 endure pain more patiently, and with less complaints, than the inhabitants of to\TOs. 

 By this circumstance alone, we might almost be able to determine the degree of 

 civilization among the different classes of society, and it will be found to vary usually 

 in the inverse proportion of their capability to endure pain. JM. de La Malle says that 

 the English, of all European nations, take the greatest care to preserve themselves 

 from sickness ; that they have the greatest dread of pain ; and show the least forti- 

 tude and firmness when the necessity for enduring the pain is not absolute. This is 

 certainly a high compliment to the civilization of our nation, although made at the 

 expense of our fortitude. The cause is strictly physiological. As the nervous 

 system of Man becomes more susceptible to refined and vi\'id impressions, it acquires 

 greater irritability; and when the imagination, with the powers of reflection and fore- 

 si'^ht, are highly developed, wx may readily expect that the intensity of the pain will 

 be increased. Habit with the Savage resigns him to pain ; the civihzed Man either 

 discovers a remedy or roars out with angmsh. 



Some Instincts do not exhibit themselves until the animals have attained a cer- 

 tain an^e. When gnawing a bone, the Dog does not know until two months old how 



