NEW BOOK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2890, 4 February 1893, Page 2

NEW BOOK.

THE INTELLIGENCE OF ANIMALS.* We have received a copy of Mr Parnell'i newly-published work on " The Intelligence , of Animals." The subject is one which no Australasian writer, so far as we are aware, has yeb taken up, although it is one of peculiar interest to residents of the colonies, who come bo much in contact with the domes tie lower animals. The author* ob« - ject is—he tells us iv the preface—"if possible, to «waken public interest in the daily lives of the numerous animals (using the word in its most comprehensive sense. but excluding man from the category) which surroini 1 »s, and to enforce the view that they v,. not mere lumps of animated clay, but creatures quickened by the fire of intelligence, and mentally as well as physically our brethren." He rightly thinks that let . this belief once sink into peeple's minds, and their treatment of animals-would* be much better. Mr Purnell deplores the rapid, ex- / termination of the native birds of New Zealand, and hopes his treatise may .help to, evoke a feeling in every colonist that these attractive creatures should continue to live and nourish. * „ Mr PurneU's work is an eloquent and forcible appeal to civilised man—the superior animal—to study the many ways in which the lower animals show that they possess, in a greater or less degree, characteristici which man generally is Drone to believe belong to him alone, He ' thinks that the principal difficulty we have to contend against in these investigations is.our own prejudices. He shows that in an earlier stage of civilisation many nations were (given to the worship of some particular animal, though now many persons regard a belief in the possession of mental capacities by the lower animals as little short of blasphemy; Mr Purnell brings forward not. only well* authenticated ancedotes, but also the authority of scientific observers to prove. that many animals—both domesticated and wild—have performed actions which can only be accepted as manifestation* of intelligence on the part of the animals. Animals, Mr Purnell claims, should be viewed v living, intelligent creatures, endowed with personal and racial characteristics, and should be classed into different tribes accordingly, as we classify the human race, not by physical peculiarities alone but like* wise language, dispositions, manners* customs—all outward icanifestatione, in' short. The term instinct is enquired iato and defined, and the origin of instincts is also investigated. Mr Purnell contends that what is termed instinct in animals is merely in some cases, hereditary habits, while, toothers, it is intelligence, pure and simple, differing in no essential particular 'from man's intelligence, excepc that it is smaller iv quantity, and that man possesses spiritual qualities not found in the lower animal. It is shown that the evolution of intelligence in ininr*]* has accompanied the evolution of bodily structure, and that man is united mentally, as he is physically, with the lower animals. Instances ot the existence of the logical faculty in animals ,have often been cited, and as often regarded as " travellers' tales," but Mr Purnell's examples are beyond dispute, v.v.l he has established a strong case for the animals. He shows also that animals profit by experience, and as they grow older they grow wiser, more wary, and skilful in meeting the emergencies of lite— as sensible men do. Mr Purnell also gives many proofs of the existence of a reign of law amongst animals, calling attention to the power of organisation that is often shown by deer, wild cattle, certain fowls of the air, and ants, and to the councils held- by crows and other birds. The combination'of animals for attack and defence; their co-operation in hunting, amusement, and—it must be said— field and garden robbing are air evidence of the possession of intelligence. _ The affections of animals are treated of in a. chapter that will be one of the most popular in the book, and will do much towards the author's end of awakening in his readers an interest in their fellow creatures—for as such, most of the readers will by the time they have read so far regard, them. The remarks upon the amusements of animals and the evidence that they show of possessing the asathetjjo sense, are all tended to promote a lore for animals. The individuality of character evinced by animals when placed in circumstances of which they could have had no previous experience, is shown by many surprising incidents—all of which, it i« due to the author to say, are fully authenticated. The manner in which they educate their young is another point in which, animals show the possession of intelligence. The language of animals is a question to which many scientists have lately given great attention, and Mr Purnell deals with it at some length. The possibility is contemplated that men may one day be able to exchange ideas with the lower animals. Experiments with monkeys which are in progress in Paris, by an eminent tatant, hare, in fact, almost conclusively estab. lished the existence of a simian language; and so, no doubt, with other animals. Mr Purnell also glances at the aspect which man and the world present to animals. Most of us know that these signs ate often very positive, without enquiring, as Mr Purnell does, into their meaning. The work concludes with the expression of the author's belief that the future destiny of animals depends upon nun, wish another plea against the ruthless destruction of animallife by man. It is pointed out that, within our knowledge, .no new kind of animal has come into existence within the historic period, while several have become extinct; and this furnishes an additional reason why the strange and beautiful creatures which still survive should be preserved; That the lower animals have rights must be admitted; their physical kinship to man, once fiercely denied, has now been amply demonstrated; and Mr Purnell's endeavor to pcove that they are likewise related to him mentally, and that instinct, viewed as a faculty distinct from intelligence, does not exist is, we consider, BUCOBSBfuI. The work, though containing many quotations from the opinions of scientists, is of a popular character. It deserves to be widely read—indeed, we should much like to see it approved as a reading book for the higher standards in the public schools; Everybody who has anything to do With animals or is a student of Nature shouldread it. It is well printed, on good paper, by Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs, Limited; and the price, three shillings and sixpence, while within the reach of nearly everybody, is well within the value of the work.