xl THE. ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



They involve as well as prove a series of reasoning processes undistinguishable from 

 similar processes of reasoning performed by the human mind. 



"Again, the construction of a canal from the pond, across the lowlands to the rising 

 ground upon which the hard wood is found, to provide a way for the transportation 

 of this wood by water, is another remarkable act of animal intelligence. A canal is 

 not absolutely necessary to beavers any more than such a work is to mankind ; but it 

 comes to both alike as the progress in knowledge. A beaver canal could only be con- 

 ceived by a lengthy and even complicated process of reasoning. After the concep- 

 tion had been developed and executed in one place, the selection of a line for a canal 

 in another would involve several distinct considerations, such as the character of the 

 ground to be excavated, its surface elevation above the level of the pond, and the 

 supply of hard wood near its necessary terminus. These, together with many other ele- 

 ments of fitness, must be ascertained to concur before the work could, be safely entered 

 upon. When a comparison of a large number of these beaver canals has demonstrated 

 that they were skilfully and judiciously located, the inference seems to be unavoidable 

 that the advantages named were previously ascertained. This would require an 

 exercise of reason in the ordinary acceptation of the term. 



" And this leads to another suggestion. Upon the upper Missouri these canals are 

 impossible from the height of the river-banks ; and besides this they are unnecessary, as 

 the cotton-wood, which is the prevailing tree, is found at the edge of the river. While, 

 therefore, canals are unknown to the Missouri beavers, they are constantly iu use among 

 the beavers of Lake Superior. On the other hand, the ' beaver slides ' so common and 

 so necessary on the upper Missouii are unnecessary, and therefore unknown, in the Lake 

 Superior region. Contrary to the common opinion, is there not evidence of a progress 

 in knowledge to be found in the beaver canal and the beaver slide ? There was a time, 

 undoubtedly, when the canal first came into use, and a time, consequently, when it was 

 entirely unknown. Its first inti'oduction was an act of progress from a lower to a higher 

 artificial state of life. The use of the slide tends to show the possession of a free intelli- 

 gence, by means of which they are enabled to adapt themselves to the circumstances by 

 which they are surrounded. In like manner it has been seen that the lodge is not 

 constructed upon an invariably typical plan, but adapted to the particular location in 

 which it is placed. The lake, the island, and the bank lodge are all different fi-om 

 each other, and the difference consists in changes of form to meet the exigencies of 

 the situation. These several artificial works show a capacity in the beaver to adapt 

 his constructions to the particular conditions in which he finds himself placed. 

 Whether or not they evince progress in knowledge, they at least show that the beaver 

 follows, in these respects, the suggestions of a free intelligence." 



The elephant is not only a most sagacious animal, but displays emotions of a high 

 grade. Were the elephant bred in captivity, we might expect a still greater degree of 

 intelligence, but it should be borne in mind that the individuals used as beasts of 

 burden are hunted and tamed, and their intelligence dies with them. Romanes 

 claims that " the higher mental faculties of the elephant are more advanced in their 

 development than in any other animal, except the dog and monkey." 



Then comes the cat, whose intelligence is scarcely overrated by the popular 

 judgment. Of all the cat stories we have read, the following one, copied from 

 Romanes, caps the climax for the display of good judgment under trying circum- 

 stances : while a paralfine lamp was being trimmed, some of the oil fell upon the back 

 of the cat, and was afterwards ignited by a cinder falling upon it from the fire. " The 



