48 
FIRST CLASS OF THE VERTEBRATED ANIMALS. 
slate. Being very much larger than the Wild Boar, and at the same time much 
more docile, it would yield domestic races of far greater value than the common Pig, 
and of a different quality. Yet, as it presents but few means of defence, this valu- 
able animal is gradually becoming more scarce in America, where it is in great de- 
mand for the delicious flavor of its flesh as an article of food. Ik is probable that 
this important race, if not previously domesticated, will become totally extinct as 
America becomes more peopled. 
All the different kinds of Solipeda might bo rendered, with care, as domestic as 
the Horse or the Ass. The training and breeding of the Zebra (Eqjivs Zebra), 
the Quagga (E. Couagga), the Dauw {E. Montanvs), the Dzbiggiai {^E. Jlf^monns), 
would be a useful labor to society, and probably a lucrative undertaking for tlie pro- 
jectors. 
Nearly all the Ruminantia are social animals, living together in troops, and thus 
most of the species of this numerous tribe are fitted by their Nature to become domes- 
ticated. There is at present one species, perhaps two, which are now only partially 
domesticated in South America, and are nearly unknown in our climates. This is 
much to be regretted, as they would yield fleeces of great fineness, and at the same 
time be useful as boasts of burthen. The Alpaca (^Auchenia paco), and the Vicugna 
(Auclienia vicupna), arc more than twice as large as the largest races of our Sheep. 
The qualities of their fleece are very different from those of the ordinary wool, and 
might be made into stuffs possessing an intermediate quality between wool and silk. 
This would certainly give rise to a new branch of industry, and serve to extend the 
commerce of our nation. 
It has often been objected to the domestication of animals inhabiting warm coun- 
tries, that the differenc.^ of climate would form with us an insurmountable difficulty. 
This error might have been avoided, if the objectors bail been more aware of the re- 
sources of Nature in adapting animals to differences of temperature, as well as of our 
extensive influence over all living beings. In reference to the Alpaca and Vicugna 
this diflBcuUy could not exist, and the objection resolves itself into mere ignorance of 
their habitat; for these animals reside only on the very temperate parts of the Andes, in 
Peru and Chile. It is not even applicable to tho Tapir, although originally from the 
warmest climates. 
The nature of domestication has now been fully explained. We have seen that its 
foundation exists in the natural disposition of animals to live together in herds or 
troops, and to form mutual attachments; — that it can only be induced by kindness, 
chiefly by augmenting their wants and aftervi ards satis^ing them. Yet, by these 
means, we could only produce domestic individuals and not domestic races, if wo were 
not aided by one of the most general laws of living beings, — the power of transmitting 
their organic and intellectual modifications to their posterity. This is one of the 
roost rcraarkabla phenomena of Nature, and well worthy of profound attention. That 
an accidental modification of the body should become a permanent alteration of form 
is extraordinary, but that a passing desire or habit should become, in the course of 
time, an original instinct, is without doubt altogether astonishing. 
We have also seen the importance of studying animals in captivity, as connected 
with the progress of Zoological science. However the study of wild animals may 
serve to point out the part they have to play on the great theatre of Nature, it totally 
fails to discover their faculties and dispositions : we must resort to captive animals for 
this information. If it were true Uiat animals must he examined when at. liberty in 
order to ascertain their Nature, then the advancement of this branch of science is 
hopeless, as the difficulties of studjing wild animals .ire so great as to bo equivalent in 
practice to an impossibility. When at liberty they view with distrust every person 
whom they do not know, and either fly from or attack all who molest them. Again, 
animals could not be examined in savage and remote countries with wluch we arc 
altogether unacquainted. The mere circumstance of pursuing an animal alters its ori- 
ginal condition, and even then its natural state is as much disturbed as if it were really 
in captivity. 
If it be true that the state of an animal, in whatever part of the earth it may be 
placed, is the natural consequence of the faculties and instincts imparted by its Crea- 
tor, it follows, that if we have ascertained the latter, we may predict the former. 
As soon as we know exactly the general faculties and dispositions of the species, it 
is easy to state how it will act in every situation in which it can be placed. It be- 
comes no longer necessary for us to follow the animal into t)»e details of its existence, 
to visit the country of its residence, to find it out, and to hunt it down. Having 
once ascertained its Nature by Analysis, we can then apply the principles thus estab- 
lished Synthetically to every other possible case. This is the way in which all the 
sciences proceed, and Zoology can be properly cultivated only when it follow.^ a simi- 
lar course. 
Under whatever view the subject may be considered, we must arrive .at one con- 
clusion — that the examination of animals in Jlcnageries or Zoological Gardens is, 
of all methods, the best for studying and knowing them, as they ought to be investi- 
gated by the lover of Nature. 
GENERAL REVIEW OF THE MAMMALIA CONTINUEP, 
Analysis of the principles which guide the actions of Animals — Intelligence and In- 
stinct— Effect of Habit in transforming the character of Actions — /7i/c%c«cc of 
the higher Animals compared with that of Man. 
Before entering upon an analysis of the inward principles which determine the ac- 
tions of animals, it must, in the first place, be recollected, that our knowledge of the 
intellects or sensations of animals will rest ultimately upon tho consciousness of 
what passes in our own minds. It is only by examining that internal light which we 
possess within ourselves that we can arrive at any sati-ffactory conclusion. \Sc com- 
pare our own actions with theirs; we arc conscious of the internal cause which incites 
us to act, and we infer a similar cause in the animal. Should the Creator have be- 
stowed a faculty to animals altogether different from those we are conscious of possess- 
ing, it must remain concealed for ever from our thoughts. The boundaries of our 
own intellectual world form the limits of our knowledge regarding the causes which 
produce the actions of animals. 
Some of the principles which urge hlammalia to act arc evidently of the simplest kind. 
The cries of an Infant when in pain, or in want of assistance, — the determination of 
a newly-born animal to the brea.st and the action of sucking,— -the flight of a young 
animal when influenced by fear, although it has had no experience of danger, — its 
resistance when we attempt to aeixe it, — the attention of an animal just born to the 
cries of its mother, are all actions of this kind. AMiether simple or complex, they 
arise previous to all experience; and have been reg-arded, by the common consent of 
all Naturalists, as purely Instinctive. I’hey proceed from an irresistible and uniform 
internal power, which leads invariably to tho same course of action. 
But all the actions of animals are not of this uniform description. The Dog obeys 
and does not fly from the w hip which his master raises to chastise him. Ho seeks 
for the object which has been pointed out, instead of remmning indifferent to the 
order he has received. If he bo confined in a cage with wooden bars, he is agitated 
with rage and attempts to destroy them ; but if they are made of iron, ho lies down 
resigned to his confinement. All these actions ore Intelligent ; and it is the very 
nature of this Intelligence that it is capable of being modified by experience, and of 
conforming itself to the variable circumstances which incite it to act. 
Other instances of Intelligence may be mentioned. When a Horse has to choose 
between two roads, of which one is known to him, he always takes the latter, however 
long the period of time since he may have travelled thereon. The Dog leaps before 
his m.aster, and loads him with caresses, when he sees him preparing to go out, and 
wishes to accompany him. Tho same animal confines the flock, which has been en- 
trusted to his care, within tho precise limits marked out by his master, Tho Wolf 
attacks his prey openly and by force when in the recesses of the forest; but, if he 
be in the neighbourhood of a village, be approaches it cautiously, and attacks it by 
surprise. 
All these actions are evidently Intelligent, and not Instinctive. Tho slightest cir- 
cumstance would have induced the Horse to take the road which he had not previously 
travelled. If the Dog, by hia disobedience, had offended his master, instead of leap- 
ing before him with joy, he would crouch anti tremble at his feet. We also know 
that he acquires tlie remarkable talent of guarding the flock entirely from a previous 
education, and in being trained expressly for that purpose. 
On the contrary, it is the common character of Instinctive actions to bo fixed and 
invariable; ^o be constantly produced by the same causes and the same conditions. 
We accordingly consider the following actions as Instinctive ; — the Dog, when ho 
hides under ground the remains of his meal ; — the Horse and Reindeer, when they 
remove with their hoofs the snow which covers the earth, to expose tlie food of which 
they are in want; — the Cows, when they come together in a circle, upon the approach 
of an enemy, with their heads and horns in the circumference, anil their calves in 
the centre ; — the Beavers, when they build cabins and construct dikes, when they 
cut the wood necessary for their edifices, and repair the ravages which lime or an 
enemy has occasioned to their buildings; — the Rabbit, when it excavates its burrow; 
—the Bird, when it constructs its nest. All these actions, and many others, are 
presented to us with a certain degree of uniformity, essentially tho same in all its 
more important particulars. The Dog hides his food with the same blind Instinct, 
although its superabundant supply renders such a precaution unnecessary. The 
Horse or Reindeer that uncovers the gr.as5 or moss concealed under the snow, 
does the same thing when he sees the snow for the first time, and prior to all expe- 
rience; he acts in the same manner after a meal as when oppressed with hunger. 
The Beaver builds in all situations, under the closest confinement as well as when in 
the enjoyment of the greatest liberty ; when in the possession of the most comfortable 
abode, as well ns when in want of all shelter. The Cows, which exhibit so much 
ingenuity in defending their young when in a herd, do not change their plan of de- 
fence though surprised in a small party, and wiion this method becomes wholly insuffi- 
cient. The Rabbit which takes so much pains to burrow its retreat, knows not how 
to conceal it, or to adapt its construction to the changes of the seasons, to the cir- 
cumstances of the place, or to the nature of its enemies. Tho lower classes of ani- 
mals present instances still more striking and extraordinary of the blindness of their 
Instincts. 
Upon considering all the Instinctive actions of animals, we find that these are of » 
nature very different from their Intelligent acts. Instincts are exercised or exhibit 
themselves only at certain periods; theyarc always of a limited number in each species, 
but they go on increasing greatly in number and importance among the lower classes 
of animals, generally in pioportion as their organization differs from that of the human 
race. 
Numerous instances might be adduced in .support of those views. We at once per- 
ceive an immense difference between those intelligent actions which have already been 
enumerated, alike remarkable for their complexity, and those involuntary Instinct?, 
rJways of great simplicity, which arc ofcasioned by fear, passion, desire, or hunger. The 
hitter seem purely organic, — that is, they result from the direct influence of a superior 
Power, — ^whilo, to the former, Intelligcuco appears indispensable. It is also only at 
certain periods, and for a limited time, that those animals seek their females, prepare 
their abodes, or construct their nests. The Dog, the Horse, and the Bull present 
few actions which can be regarded as instinctive; yet their lives pass on with consi- 
derable activity. 1 heir intelligent actions nearly fill up their entire course, and arc 
sufficient for the numerous situations in which they are placed. We can perceive 
trace, among the Mammalia, of that diminution of Intelligence which results fro^’^ 
the prevalence of tho Instinctive acts. The Dog presents a great number of Intelli- 
gent actions, and only a small number of Instincts. The Bull, on the contrary, 
an active life within very narrow limits ; and though his Instincts are not positively 
numerous, they become relatively so, when compared with the very small number of 
his intelligent actions. 
But the marked difference between Intelligence and Instinct becomes still 
striking when we extend our views beyond the limits of the Mammalia, and consider 
