192 WILD TRAITS IN TAME ANIMALS. 



vicious method of his own — he has next to 

 compute, to the fraction of an ounce how much 

 propulsive force is required to project his body 

 (the exact weight of which has to be taken 

 into account) precisely that distance and not a 

 quarter of an inch farther. Moreover, he must 

 take into calculation whether the spot he wishes 

 to reach is above or below his starting-point ; 

 and plainly his brain, when it sends forth 

 motor impulses to the numerous muscles in- 

 volved, must beforehand reckon out and ap- 

 portion to each its share in the task. At the 

 same moment he must also estimate the exact 

 proportionate amount of muscular force which 

 will be required in each of his limbs to stop 

 and balance his body on his new and pre- 

 carious foothold. 



Of course one need scarcely say that the 

 whole process goes on without reaching the 

 consciousness of the goat, or anything that 

 could, even by courtesy, be called his mind. 

 But, nevertheless, it is obvious that, in some 

 way or other, the calculation is made, and is 

 completed in a time and with an unerrino- accur- 

 acy which completely puts to shame the mathe- 

 matical triumphs of the human intellect. 



