Saip. III. Mental Powers. 8$ 



when starting on a walk with his master ; and the very distinct 

 one of demand or supplication, as when wishing for a door or 

 window to be opened. According to Houzeau, who paid par- 

 ticular attention to the subject, the domestic fowl utters at leas< 

 a dozen significant sounds."" 



The habitual use of articulate language is, however, peculiai 

 to man ; but he uses, in common with the lower animals, inarti- 

 culate cries to express his meaning, aided by gestures and the 

 movements of the muscles of the face." This especially holds 

 good with the more simple and vivid feelings, which are but 

 little connected with our higher intelligence. Our cries of pain, 

 fear, surprise, anger, together with their appropriate actions, 

 and the murmur of a mother to her beloved child, are more 

 expressive than any words. That which distinguishes man 

 from the lower animals is not the understanding of articulate 

 sounds, for, as every one knows, dogs understand many words 

 and sentences. In this respect they are at the same stage of 

 development as infants, between the ages of ten and twelve 

 months, who understand many words and short sentences, but 

 cannot yet utter a single word. It is not the mere articulation 

 which is our distinguishing character, for parrots and other 

 birds possess this power. Nor is it the mere capacity of con- 

 necting definite sounds with definite ideas ; for it is certain that 

 some parrots, which have been taught to speak, connect un- 

 erringly words with things, and persons with events."^ The 

 lower animals differ from man solely in his almost infinitely 

 larger power of associating together the most diversified 



*" ' Facult^s Mentales des Ani- to add to the " good morning " a 



maux,' torn. ii. 1872, p. 346-349. short sentence, which was never 



^"^ See a discussion on this subject once repeated after his father's 



in Mr. E. B. Tyler's very interesting death. He scolded violently a 



work, 'Eesearches into the Early strange dog which came into the 



History of Mankind,' 1865, chaps, room through the open window; 



ii. to iv. and he scolded another parrot (say- 



" I have received several detailed ing "you naughty polly") which 

 accounts to this effect. Admiral had got out of its cage, and was 

 Sir J. Sulivan, whom I know to be eating apples on the kitchen table. 

 a careful observer, assures me that See also, to the same effect, Houzeau 

 an African parrot, long kept in his on parrots, ' Faculty Mentales,' 

 father's house, invariably called torn. ii. p. 309. Dr. A. Mosohkan 

 certain persons of the household, as infoi-ms me that he knew a starling 

 well as visitors, by their names. He which never made a mistake in 

 said "good morning" to every one at saying in German " good morning " 

 breakfast, and " good night " to each to persons arriving, and " good- 

 is thoy left the room at night, and bye, old fellow^," to those departing, 

 never reversed these salutations. 1 could add several other wj«k 

 Tc Sir J. Sulivan's father, he used 



