44 
FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 
The Slave who is compelled to renounce his free-will is far from being in the same 
condition. Ho holds the same rank in the hloral as a mutilated being or a monster 
in the Physical World. 
The essential difference between these two states is further seen in the opposite 
means which are employed to enforce them. A Man can only he reduced to Slavery, 
and maintained in it, by violence; because it is the very nature of Liberty to be unre- 
strained. An animal can only be domesticated by kindness. Its will exists, and 
shows itself only in its wants, and it can only be acted upon through its necessities, 
cither by satisfying or enfeebling them. 
Violence is altogether useless in disposing a wild animal to obedience. As it has a 
natural aversion to IMan, from his being of a different species, it runs away, if at large, 
upon the first impression of fear which he occasions, and if captive, maintains a 
determined hatred towards him. It is only by restoring confidence that it can ever bo 
rendered familiar to him, and this can be effected only by kind treatment. It is thus 
that the social instinct of the animal becomes gradually developed, and its natural 
feeling of distrust of every thing which is new or strange becomes proportionately 
weaker. 
The methods to be adopted in taming an animal arc as various as the creatures 
themselves. Each process must be adapted to the peculiar likings of the animal. 
To satisfy its natural wants is one method which, iu the coarse of time, brings on 
its entire submission, especially when applied to a very young animal. The habit of 
receiving iU food constantly from our hands renders it familiar, and finally it becomes 
attached. But, except when very long continued, the attachments thus formed are 
but slight. The benefits which the animal thus procures it could have obtained of 
itself, had it been allowed to fulfil its natural disposition. As soon as we attempt to 
bend it to any particular service it runs away, and quickly returns to its original inde- 
pendence. It is therefore necessary, not only to satisfy its original and natural wants, 
hut, by creating in it new wants and cnjo}'ments, to render the society of JIan abso- 
lutely necessary to its existence. 
Hunger is one of the most powerful means of taming animals. As the extent of a 
benefit conferred is always in proportion to the want of the person relieved, so the 
gratitude of the animal is more profound according as the food jpven to it was the 
more necessary. This method is applicable to all the I^Iammalia. It gives rise to a 
feeling of affection on the part of the animal, and at the same time produces a physical 
debility w'hich reacts upon and enfeebles its WiU. It is thus that the education of 
Horses begins, when they have passed their first years in a wild state. On being 
first caught, a very small quantity of food is given to them, and at very long interva > 
of time. They hence become gradually familiarized to their keeper, and acquire a 
certain degree of affection for him, which he readily turns to his own advantage, and 
thus confirms his power. 
If to the influence of hunger that of delicious food be added, the empire of kind- 
ness becomes greatly extended; and this power arrives to a degree perfectly astonish- 
ing, if we can succeed in pleasing the palate of animals by any kind of confectionery or 
cookery, in a higher degree than could have been done by the best food attainable in 
their wild state. In fact, it is chiefly by means of dainties, especially of sweetmeats, 
that the herbivorous animals can be induced to go through those wouderful feats and 
exercises which may often be witnessed in the Circus. 
These delicacies influence the will of the animal to such a degree, that starvation 
and physical deprivations become no longer necessary. In a short time it acquires a 
high degree of affection for those who contribute to its enjoyment, and willingly per- 
forms whatever they may require. 
But the services rendered by animals do not always proceed from so selfish an 
origin. Caresses arc one chief means of gaining tlicir affection, which cannot be 
termed sensual, because these arc addressed to no particular sense. Their fondness 
for caresses is altogether an acquired taste. Ko wild animal requires them from 
others of its own species. Even among our domestic animals, we see the young 
rejoice at the approach of their mother, the male and female happy in each other’s 
society, individuals accustomed to live together pleased to meet again after having 
been separated; but these feelings are always accompanied W'ith much reserve, and 
they never extend to reciprocal caresses. It is from ISIan alone that they receive 
them, and their attachment to him increases with the strength of the acquired taste 
for them. The pleasure of animals maybe further heightened by a soft tone of voice, 
or even by touching their mommaj. 
All animals are not sensible to caresses in an equal degree. The Ruminating ani- 
mals seem but slightly influenced by them; the Horse, on the contrary, enjoys them 
with ecstasy; it is the same with many Pachydermata, and especially with the Ele- 
phant. The Cat is not indifferent to them; sometimes even it seeks them with 
ardour ; but it is unquestionably in the Hog that the influence of caresses produces 
the most marked results; and what is rcmaikable, all the other varieties of the 
genus Canis, which have been hitherto observed, shore this quality with him. M. 
F. Cuvier mentions,, that in the Menagerie rhi Roi there was a She-Wolf, upon 
whom caresses writh the hand and voice produced so powerful an effect as almost to 
amount to a state of delirium, and her joy was exhibited as much by cries as by move- 
ments. A Jackal from Senegal was similarly influenced when treated in the same 
manner; and a common Fox was so forcibly affected by them, that it was necessary 
to abstain from all demonstrations of this kind, as the result might have been fatal to 
the animal. It will be interesting to know that all these animals were females. 
It may be doubted whether we should consider the chanting of airs, or the sound 
of bells, amongst those artificial pleasures by means of which animals are gratified 
and captivated. The songs of the Camel-driver arc perhaps only the simple signs by 
which the Camels learn to mend or slacken their pace. 
That animals may continue to perform those acts of docility which we require from 
them, caresses must follow as w ell as precede their performance. The constraint 
employed in urging them to act would, if too long continued, have an injurious effect. 
It is then only by repeating their delicacies or caresses that the calmness and confidence 
is restored. 
When once familiarity and confidence prevail on the part of the animal by means of 
kind treatment, and that habit has rendered the sceioty of Man necessary to it, we 
may then venture to use higher degrees of constraint, and even to inflict punishment* 
But our means of severity are very limited. Wc can only use blows, with certain 
precautions to prevent the chastised animal from running away. Punishment always 
produces the same effect; it changes the disposition which we wish to suppress into 
fear. By the association of ideas, the former impression yields, or is entirely merged 
into the latter. 
It is alw'ays dangerous to carry the punishment of an animal to excess. Violent 
fear may either totally intimidate tho animal and render it for ever useless, or else it 
drives it to despair, and it becomes altogether ferocious and unmanageable. A 
Horse, naturally timid, if corrected imprudently, plunges in the madness of its 
fright, along with its rider, into the deepest abyss. The Spaniel when kindly treated 
is inteUigont, docile to its master, and in every respect fitted for sporting ; yet if an 
undue severity has been used in its education, it is undecided, hasty, or cringing. 
When once the severity of punishment has passed a certain limit, which varies in 
species and even in individuals, the animal begins to resist. In a moment, the instinct 
of self-preservation awakes iu all its force. Thus w© often see our domestic animals, 
and even the Dog itself, revolt against ill usage, and inflict the most cruel punish- 
ment on its perpetrators. 
Many instances might be adduced of vengeance inflicted by the domestic animals, 
especially by the Horse, against those who have ill-treated them, as well as the 
hatred shown by these animals, and the very long time for whicli this fueling of 
aversion has preserved its force. The cases are numerous and well known; and 
although they have long demonstrated that brutality is not the way to obtain ohe~ 
dience from animahj these creatures still continue to be treated as if it were unne- 
cessary to court their compliance. One example of an Elephant may be mentioned 
hero, which happencMl under the eyes of M. F. Cuvier. 
This auimal had been entrusted, when three or four years old, to a young man 
who took charge of it, and had trained it to perform various feats for the amusement 
of tho public. It paid implicit obedience, and seemed to feel a tender affection for 
him. It not only yielded, without a moment’s hesitation, to all his commands, but 
seemed absolutely unhappy without him. It rejected the attentions of any other per- 
sons, and even ate its food with sadness, when given by the hand of any other individual. 
While this young man remained under the eyes of his fatlier, who owned the Elephant, 
he always treated it properly; but when it was transferred to the Menayeris du lioU 
and that the young man was thus left to himself, his attentions diminished, the wants 
of the animal were neglected, anti in a moment of drunkenness ho wont so far as to 
strike the Elephant. The poor animal immediately lost its habitual gaiety ; it became 
so sad and dejected that it was supposed to be unwell. It, however, still obeyed the 
keeper, but no louger performed its exercises with the same alacrity as heretofore. 
Signs of impatience were sometimes shown, and then suppressed, as if two opposite 
feelings were in secret conflict; the animal became less disposed to obey, which in- 
creased the dbeontent of its lealor. It w.as in vain that order.*? were given to the 
young man on no account to strike tho Elephant, whoso former docility could only be 
restored by the kindest treatment. Vexed at having lost his authority, and in not 
being able to exhibit the feats of the Elephant with his former success, his irritation 
increased, and one day he struck the animal with so much brutality that it became 
excited to the utmost pitch of fury, and uttered such a yell that its terrified keeper, 
who heard it for the first time, was glad to escape its vengeance. Never afterwards 
would the animal permit him to approach; even at tho sight of him it became en- 
raged, and all attempts to manage it were un!iucccs.sful. It become wholly untract- 
able, and no longer could be induced to perform for the amusement of tho public. 
It thus appears that kindness on our part is absolutely necessary to dispose animals 
to obedience, and that interest as well as humanity agree in pointing out the same 
course for the proper management of their instincts. 
GENERAL REVIEW 0 ¥ THE MAMMALIA CONTINUED. 
Taming of the Mammulia^Forced Watches — Castration^SiLSceptibiUty of dif- 
ferent Tribes to the influence of Domestication — Formation of Domestic liucss 
— lielation to the Social Instincts. 
The different methods of taming wild animals pointed out in tho preceding section, 
arc completely applicable only to those animals which are susceptible of affection and 
of fear. Wlien animals feel a certain degree of attachment for kindness received, or 
when they dread the repetition of punishment, it is sufficient merely to rccal these 
emotions to produce an immediate effect upon their Will. 
It often happens, however, from the peculiar nature of individuals or of species? 
that certain habits or likings have acquired so powerful an influence, that no other 
emotion can maintain the ascendancy. With animals of this character, neither 
kindness nor punishment has any effect ; and if persisted in, they would tend but to 
increase iheir constitutional bias. It is only by acting immetliately upon their Will) 
so as to weaken the force of the ruling passion, that they can be rendered susceptible 
of gratitude or of fear. With tempers so refractory as these, the only means of 
domestication hitherto discovered are Forced Watches and Castration. 
Without proceeding to actual mutilation, it appears that of all methods Forced 
Watches exercise the most powerful influence in enfeebling tho Will of an animah 
and in disposing it to obedience, especially when united to a prudent combination of 
rew’ards and punishments. Animals may he prevented from sleeping by applying tbc 
whip more or less frequently, or still more effectually by a loud reverberating noise, 
such as that of a Drum or Trumpet, which must he varied so as to avoid the effect 
of uniformity. By keeping them long without food, and then feeding them slightly 
during their usual time of sleep, the same effect may also be produced. 
This method is applicable to all animals and to both sexes, although it docs n^t 
always produce the same result. The other method, that of Castration, applies to 
male individuals solely, and is absolutely necessary only with certain Huminatiug 
but chiefly with the Bull. 
