CHAPTER I 
THE VOICE OF ANIMALS 
N otwithstanding that we commonly 
speak of the animals which populate 
the earth as “ dumb creatures,” yet, it is 
hardly necessary to state, the expression is 
by no means a correct one, for by far the 
greater number of them are able to denote 
their moods and feelings by means of vocal 
organs. 
Although it is difficult for human beings to 
interpret the meaning of the various cries 
uttered by animals, nevertheless we are not 
justified in assuming that they are unintelli¬ 
gible to other creatures. Indeed, we have 
only to observe a mother cat and her kittens, 
or a hen and her brood of young ones, to 
recognize that the parents are capable of 
giving warnings and commands by the use of 
their voices. 
With the exception of a few beasts such as 
the giraffes, the kangaroos, the armadillos, 
etc., the majority of mammals are endowed 
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