1890.] The Evolution of Mind. QII 
the redness. So with the water-fowl seeking water. He alights 
on a surface of water when and where convenient, without dis- 
crimination as to the particular piece of water. The crow and 
other animals avoid man in general, without discrimination as 
the particular man, in the absence of special instruction. That 
this is an exact generalization is shown by the usual indifference 
of such birds, etc., to cattle and other, to them, innocuous animals. 
In fact, it is quite easy to show, as Mr. Romanes has done, that a 
low grade of generalization is common to most animals, and that 
it is quite as natural to them as the particularization of individuals. 
That they are at the same time not incapable of particularization 
is easily seen. The water-bird ultimately., seeks its accustomed 
locality for breeding. The bird or mammal learns to know its 
master, and to distinguish him from other persons by their con- 
fidence and friendship. 
It is claimed by Professor Max Müller and other persons, that 
conception is impossible without language ; i£. that it is impos- 
sible to form concepts without words to represent them as sym- 
bols. Now this is clearly not the case. The naturalist con- 
ceives his genera, orders, classes, etc., before he names them. 
One can readily conceive of redness, yellowness, etc., without 
naming them, and it is perfectly evident that many animals below 
man do the same! Itis only a question of the mental power 
of the individual as to how wide a generalization he can thus 
conceive?  Isee no reason why this power may not extend to 
the highest possible grade of generalization in the most able of 
human minds. Nevertheless to most persons symbols or names 
are necessary to the accomplishment of the higher concepts. 
Names constitute an invaluable aid in the construction of ra- 
tional edifices. They are well compared to a scaffolding to 
a building, and it is quite possible, as Romanes remarks, for 
a grade of conception thus attained to need the aid of words 
1 This has been well shown by Mr. Romanes in his Mental Evolution of Man, Origin of 
Human Faculty, Chap. HI 
2 For this reason I do not see the necessity for the subtraction of the lowest grade of 
concepts under the name of “ recepts," as has been proposed by Mr. Romanes, Le. 
Chap. II. Other grades of generalization might be as readily separated under distinct 
names. 
