362 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



history of the species, whereas rational actions are performed 

 under varied circumstances, and serve to meet novel exigencies 

 which may never before have occurred even in the life-history of 

 the individual." 



The chief feature that strikes one in observations of this 

 kind is the extraordinary amount of variability in the mental 

 capacities of animals belonging to the same species. This 

 phenomenon is particularly apparent in dogs. No two are 

 alike, and in individuality they differ as much as human 

 beings do. 



For many years past I have been in the habit of attending 

 carefully to various characteristics displayed by dogs and other 

 animals, and by birds, and the result of my observations, as also 

 a few furnished by some friends and others, may, perhaps, be of 

 interest to a few readers. 



At present I have two terriers — mother and daughter — and 

 it is astonishing to notice the great mental gulf that separates 

 them. The mother from a very early age exhibited a consider- 

 able amount of intelligence, more so than is generally observable 

 in others of the same species. She " took " to rats and guns 

 as a duck does to water, and seemed from the commencement 

 to know what was expected of her. The daughter, on the other 

 hand, had to be trained in both things, and here her instinct 

 did not even seem to help her. 



While we are sitting at meals, the old dog frequently 

 scratches one's arms to attract attention when she finds herself 

 being neglected ; and again, in order to have her back scratched, 

 she walks up to one, whines, and then turns her head round 

 towards her back to indicate the part of her to which she wishes 

 to draw attention. She has a peculiarity which I have not 

 noticed in other dogs : When she has puppies, and they have 

 grown a few weeks old and are able to crawl about, she finds 

 that her milk is not sufficient to satisfy them, so she has a 

 hearty meal, and deliberately vomits it before them. She then 

 induces the pups to eat by pretending to eat the mess herself, 

 making a low whining noise the while to attract their notice. 

 The mother knows no doubt exactly when meat will not be 

 harmful to her family. I also observed that at this stage she 

 frequently brings bones and other tit-bits for her pups. But 



