1883. | Psychology. IOI 
less the brain full of inherited capacity for apprehension, yet 
when we close the avenues of sight and hearing, how inaccessible 
it becomes. 
When we consider the immense variety that exists among our 
domestic animals, a large proportion of which is undoubtedly due 
to the application by man of the laws of heredity in breeding; 
and that too in an unenlightened manner; can it be doubted that 
the application of these laws, as now understood, to a race of dogs, 
for example, with the view of increasing their general intelligence, 
would result in something far more wonderful than a retriever or 
blood-hound. 
It cannot be doubted that an intelligent dog is capable of dis- 
tinguishing between the letters of the alphabet if of a good size 
and printed upon separate cards. The step between the recogni- 
_ tion of the individual characteristics of a number of symbols and 
the ability to associate them with their respective sounds is not a 
great one. Then come words; certain symbols set in a certain 
order. 
Having arrived at this stage, which, in view of the facts, would 
seem by no means impossible, the next task would be to establish 
the connection between familiar objects with short names, and their 
names spelled with the cards. The cards being arranged in alpha- 
betical order, the dog would be taught to select the proper letters 
and place them in the proper order to spell the name of an object 
shown, without it being spoken. To save time, the word method 
might be adopted, a word being printed upon each card and taught 
as a simple, and not composite, symbol of the thing it represents. 
_ From this point onward the investigation would become absorb- 
ingly interesting; how far the brute mind could understand and 
express a relationship between two or more objects, as a ball un- 
der a hat; a shoe on a box under a table, &c., would come next, 
_ and would lead the way to the qualifying function of adjectives. 
_ This much accomplished, it would then be the province of an 
Mgenious investigator to devise plans for bringing to the notice 
of his pupils abstract ideas; first simple ones, as heat and cold; 
then more complex, as kindness, friendship, &c. This might be 
impossible even with the most ingenious methods, yet it would be 
presumptuous to pronounce it so with our present knowledge of 
brute intelligence. 
_ Lhen, too, it would be most interesting to note the operation of 
heredity upon the function of the brain in a race of creatures not 
Subject to the vicissitudes of human life, and ruled by an intelli- 
gent hand. 
I cannot but believe that ere long such an inquiry will be de- 
manded, to throw light upon this important subject, and if possi- 
_ Dl, ascertain the limits of the capabilities of our dumb compan- 
