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WILD ANIMAL TEMPERAMENT 

 AND INDIVIDUALITY 



IN man and in vertebrate animals generally, temperament 

 is the foundation of intelligence and progress. Fifty 

 years ago Fowler and Wells, the founders of the science 

 of phrenology and physiognomy, very wisely differentiated 

 and defined four "temperaments" of mankind. The six types 

 now recognized by me are the morose, lymphatic, sanguine, 

 nervous, hysterical and combative; and their names adequately 

 describe them. 



This classification applies to the higher wild animals, quite 

 as truly as to men. By the manager of wild animals in cap- 

 tivity, wild-animal temperament universally is recognized and 

 treated as a factor of great practical importance. Mistakes in 

 judging the temper of dangerous animals easily lead to trage- 

 dies and sudden death. 



Fundamentally the temperament of a man or an animal is 

 an inheritance from ancestors near or remote. In the human 

 species a morose or hysterical temperament may possibly 

 be corrected or improved, by education and effort. With 

 animals this is rarely possible. The morose gorilla gives way 

 to cheerfulness only when it is placed in ideally pleasant and 

 stimulating social conditions. This, however, very seldom is 

 possible. The nervous deer, bear or monkey is usually ner- 

 vous to the end of its days. 



The morose and hysterical temperaments operate against 

 mental development, progress and happiness. In the human 

 species among individuals of equal mental calibre, the sanguine 

 individual is due to rise higher and go farther than his nervous 

 or lymphatic rivals. 



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