ORGANIC EVOLUTION — MENTAL 155 



made, and thus called forth the auger of the alligator. 

 In attacking the fox he did not make use of his mouth, 

 but beat him with so much severity with his tail, that, 

 had not the chain which confined the fox broken, he 

 would probably have killed him. The alligator was fed 

 on raw fish, and sometimes with milk, for which he 

 showed a great fondness. In cold weather he was shut 

 up in a box, with wool in it ; but having been forgotten 

 one frosty night, he was found dead in the morning. 

 This is not, I believe, a solitary instance of amphibia 

 becoming tame, and showing a fondness for those who 

 have been kind to them. Blumenbach mentions that 

 crocodiles have been tamed ; and two instances have 

 occurred under my own observation of toads knowing 

 their benefactors, and coming to meet them with 

 considerable alacrity." — Animal Intelligence, p. 258, 



" In one of these cases the tortoise would come to the 

 call of the favoured person, and when it came would 

 manifest its affection by tapping the boot of this person 

 with its mouth ; ' but it would not answer any one else.' 

 A separation of some weeks did not affect the memory of 

 this tortoise for his friend." — JUd. p. 259. 



" I happen to know the gentleman and lady against 

 whom a complaint has been made because of the snakes 

 they keep, and I should Uke to give a short account of 

 my first visit to them. 



" Mr. M , after we had talked for a little time, asked 



if I had any fear of snakes, and after a timid ' No, not 

 very,' from me, he produced out of a cupboard a large 

 boa-constrictor, a python, and several small snakes, 

 which at once made themselves at home on the writing- 

 table among pens, ink, and books. I was at first a good 

 deal startled, especially when the large snakes coiled 

 round and round my friend, and began to notice me with 

 their bright eyes and forked tongues ; but soon, finding 

 how tame they were, I ceased to feel frightened. After 



a short time Mr. M expressed a wish to call Mrs. 



M , and left me with the boa deposited on an arm- 

 chair. I felt a little queer when the animal began 



