WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
the mental inferiority of some of them, and will sell them 
at once if possible, or exchange them away, at half their 
original cost, not wishing to lose time or take any further 
trouble with these dull or wilfully determined and obsti- 
nate individuals. It would fill a volume to relate the' 
queer and funny artful dodges used by the teachers and 
their pupils, in the school for monkeys ; but it would be 
a breach of confidence to do more than state as a fact 
the existence of such establishments in this country. 
Now this illustration of individual peculiarity can, and 
may, fairly be applied to all animals that have the power 
of showing or displaying their will, temper, or disposition, 
or whatever power we may please to call it. It would be 
endless to attempt to multiply instances of this resistance, 
or otherwise, so constantly met with in the endeavours to 
convert to our use the powers of the lower animals. How 
often we fail to reduce to subjection many of the wild 
caught animals, who die rather than submit to a treat- 
ment that succeeds to perfection with others of the same 
kind ; we are therefore unable to deny their individuality. 
If it were not for this, probably many of the adventurous 
of a species would not shift their native homes and become 
like ourselves wandering migrants, seeking new homes, 
new food and circumstances ; and in this way, the will 
and disposition already changed may lead to other changes, 
both in size, form, and colour. The endless differences 
we find in nearly-allied creatures have been used most 
freely to multiply the number of species in all our Natural 
Histories. Many of these may perhaps, in after time, be 
found to be the changes only resulting and arising out 
of the conditions that have produced them. Progressing 
in discovery, each little fact brings forth new ideas, and 
opens up a fresh field of thought. Whoever dreamed one 
hundred years ago of seeing such a marvellous display of 
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