INTRODUCTION. 9 



altogether, the genesis of the industry of ttie dwelling 

 connected with the culture of the soil ; to earlier 

 periods corresponded the natural or hollowed cave 

 and the woven tent. 



The chief industries of Animals. — In a more or 

 less perfect degree we find the same industries 

 among animals generally. In order to make just 

 comparisons, we ought especially to consider the 

 methods of those who are not endowed with 

 specially appropriated organs, for in this case 

 their task is rendered too simple. To take an 

 example. The Lion is certainly an incomparable 

 hunter ; but his whole organisation tends to facilitate 

 the capture of living prey. His agility and the 

 strength of his muscles enable him to seize it at 

 the first leap before it can escape. With his sharp 

 claws he holds it ; his teeth are so keen and his jaw 

 so strong that he kills it immediately ; with such 

 natural advantages what need has he of ingenuity ? 

 But in the case of the Wolf or the Fox it is quite 

 another matter ; they hunt with a veritable art which 

 Man himself has not disdained, since he has taken as 

 his associate their relative, the Dog. It is the same 

 with the Eagle and the Crow. The latter, in order to 

 seize the prey which he desires, needs much more 

 varied resources than the great bird of rapine for 

 whom nature has done everything. 



We find among animals not only hunting and 

 fishing but the art of storing in barns, of domesticat- 

 ing various species, of harvesting and reaping — the 

 rudiments of the chief human industries. Certain 

 animals in order to shelter themselves take advantage 

 of natural caverns in the same way as many races of 

 primitive men. Others, like the Fox and the Rodents, 



