64 Fish talk. Monkeys converse. Chapt. v. 



that my fish is a reasoning being, and I will go on to the 

 next subject, his talkativeness. 



I have stated my belief that fish are able to communi- 

 cate their ideas to each other, and I hold this opinion on 

 two grounds; the first, that it would be contrary to the 

 analogy of all nature if they could not do so, and the 

 second, that I think I can recognize indications of their 

 exercising this power. 



My belief then is that all the higher animal life that 

 we know any thing of has the power of communicating 

 ideas. Whether there be any equivalent in vegetable life 

 also is another matter, though a French writer has re- 

 cently avowed the very startling theory of trees having 

 a sense of gratification, as evidenced by an increased 

 temperature and quickened circulation at the moment of 

 contact between male and female. But I shall be content 

 with animals, and shall take instances from the higher 

 organizations only with which we have more in common. 



Has any one the hardihood to assert that monkeys 

 cannot converse! Watch them moving quietly along in 

 a large crowd. One of them gives a little sound of sa- 

 tisfaction, and there are soon plenty with him to share 

 the fruit he has found. That mamma monkey calls to 

 its young one that it is time to be oif sharp as there is 

 a man coming, or that it should not dawdle so as there is 

 fruit in front, and it very evidently understands and re- 

 pairs to its mother hurriedly or leisurely according to the 

 nature of the maternal command. This is very marked, 

 and then how mamma crones over it. Is it all meaning- 



