Can Animals Reason

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 130, 22 April 1893, Page 4

Can Animals Reason

♦ A writer in a science magazine tells the following story in order to prove that animals can " reason." A cow and steer — the latter two or three years old — were the only occupants of the barnyard where the occurrence took place. A baiting of hay was put out to them, the cow taking possession. The steer wished to share it, but the cow was selfish, and was bent on taking the whole of it, and as often as ho would manoeuvre round from side to side to get a bite she would drive him off at the point of her Lorn. The steer was so persistent that at last the old cow's patience gave way, and she, making a determined and vicious charge on him, punished him severely, though he was her own offspring. The steer felt badly hurt, not only in body but evidently in mind as. well, and immediately started out of the yard, and off down the lane towards the pasture, where were the rest of the stock, bellowing vengeance at every step in a language, which was unmistakable to the bystander, and which the mother well understood, as she ceased eating, and listened intently to the threatenings of what was to come. When those died away in the distance she resumed her ration, but with evident apprehension. In due time the steer was seen returning, bringing with him a companion larger and stronger than himself. As they approached, the rumblings of rage and revenge could be heard, which grew louder as they came nearer. The cow took in the situation at once, and was now terrorstricken. As her assailants rushed into the yard she dodged them, and rushed out at life and death speed, and away towards the rest of the stock in the field, with her pursuers close \ in her track.