HUMAN TRAITS IN THE ANIMALS 



and had lain down upon the grave waiting to wreak 

 her vengeance upon the murderer pf her young. 

 But this may be only the plausible human interpre- 

 tation of the fact. Just what the bear's state of mind 

 was, we have no means of knowing. 



The dog undoubtedly exhibits more human traits 

 than any other lower animal, and this by reason of 

 his long association with man. There are few of 

 our ordinary emotions that the dog does not share, 

 as joy, fun, love of adventure, jealousy, suspicion, 

 comradeship, helpfulness, guilt, covetousness, and 

 the like, or feelings analogous to these — the dog 

 version of them. I am not sure but that the dog 

 is capable of contempt. The behavior at times of 

 a large dog toward a small, the slights he will put 

 upon him, even ejecting his urine upon him, is 

 hardly capable of any other interpretation. The 

 forbearance, too, which a large dog usually shows 

 toward a touchy little whiffet, never resenting its 

 impudent attacks, is very human. " A barking dog 

 never bites " is an old sajdng founded upon human 

 nature as well as upon dog nature. The noisy 

 blusterer is rarely dangerous, whether man or dog. 

 I do not agree with Stevenson that the dog is a 

 snob. The key to a dog's heart is kindness. He 

 will always meet you halfway and more. I have 

 been asked why the farm dog usually shows such 

 hostility to tramps and all disreputable-looking per- 

 sons. It is not their looks that disturb the dog, but 

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