WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



the mental inferiority of some of them, and will sell them 

 at once if possible, or exchange them away, at half their 

 original cost, not wishing to lose time or take any further 

 trouble with these dull or wilfully determined and obsti- 

 nate individuals. It would fill a volume to relate the 

 queer and funny artful dodges used by the teachers and 

 their pupils, in the school for monkeys ; but it would be 

 a breach of confidence to do more than state as a fact 

 the existence of such establishments in this country. 



Now this illustration of individual peculiarity can, and 

 may, fairly be applied to all animals that have the power 

 of showing or displaying their will, temper, or disposition, 

 or whatever power we may please to call it. It would be 

 endless to attempt to multiply instances of this resistance, 

 or otherwise, so constantly met with in the endeavours to 

 convert to our use the powers of the lower animals. How 

 often we fail to reduce to subjection many of the wild 

 caught animals, who die rather than submit to a treat- 

 ment that succeeds to perfection with others of the same 

 kind ; we are therefore unable to deny their individuality. 

 If it were not for this, probably many of the adventurous 

 of a species would not shift their native homes and become 

 like ourselves wandering migrants, seeking new homes, 

 new food and circumstances ; and in this way, the will 

 and disposition already changed may lead to other changes, 

 both in size, form, and colour. The endless differences 

 we find in nearly-allied creatures have been used most 

 freely to multiply the number of species in all our Natural 

 Histories. Many of these may perhaps, in after time, be 

 found to be the changes only resulting and arising out 

 of the conditions that have produced them. Progressing 

 in discovery, each little fact brings forth new ideas, and 

 opens up a fresh field of thought. Whoever dreamed one 

 hundred years ago of seeing such a marvellous display of 



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