sense of sight or smell, but which in others is absolutely inscrutable. I have seen these animals, the noble stag for instance, evince the greatest alarm at the sight or the smell of the very person with whom a short time afterwards I have seen him as familiar as possible. Some years ago, being in Knowsley Park (in Lancashire, the property of the Earl of Derby), attended by Francis Shaw, the keeper, and being anxious to get a near view of some fine red deer (stags and harts) I was informed by him it would be a difficult task, unless I attempted it alone, or at least without his company. By way of experiment, he changed his dress, and disguised himself as much as possible; yet, on attempting to approach them, they threw up their heads, stared at us for a few seconds, and scampered wildly away: nor was this all; in their flight, they happened to cross our track, or, in other words, came to a part of the park where we had been walking about an hour before, over which every one of them made an immense bound; thus proving they were well aware that the keeper had passed along the very part which they would not suffer to touch their feet: this knowledge they undoubtedly acquired by their exquisite sense of smell. Some months afterwards, I saw the very same deer allow the keeper, the same Francis Shaw, to approach within a few yards of them, when they testified no alarm whatever, but stared at us with a sort of complacent inquiring curiosity. On the former occasion, when they testified so much alarm, it was the period of the year when venison is in season, and deer therefore shot; on the latter, the reverse happened to be the case, of which these animals

appeared perfectly conscious.

For the following circumstance it is more difficult to account.

When

it has been determined to kill a deer, one is selected for the purpose, which the keeper endeavours to approach; yet, before he has been able to obtain a shot, the selected animal seems to be aware that the keeper has marked him for his victim; he will testify a greater degree of alarm than any of his fellows; and as the herd moves or is driven from place to place, the suspicious animal will be uniformly seen a short distance in advance, in the rear, or in some peculiar situation. How shall we account for this extraordinary prescience in the deer? It is beyond the limits of human investigation.

It would be rather irksome, both to the writer and to those who may honour his excogitations with perusal, to descant upon every order of living creatures; nor indeed is such a course requisite for the positive demonstration of my notions of physiological philosophy, and therefore I will proceed with the development of the more prominent features of my doctrine.

The rat, a diminutive animal, is inferior to the elephant in sagacity, but yet remarkably cunning. The frontal elevation of the rat's head is evident at the first glance; and, as it has principally taken up its abode with man, its habits and manners are well known. It is difficult to trap, and in avoiding danger, though hidden, or lurking beneath the most specious and alluring garb, the rat evinces extraordinary cunning. If poison be laid for rats, disguised as much as possible, if a few take it, the remainder become alarmed and quit the premises. However, to place the reasoning powers of this animal

in an unquestionable view, and also to show how far it is capable of receiving education, I will quote a page or two from the Memoirs of Henry Masers de la Tude,' who, at the instigation of Madame de Pompadour, was imprisoned in the Bastile and other state prisons of France for the long period of thirty-six years:

66 TAMING OF RATS.

"For a long time, I had enumerated amongst my greatest annoyances the presence of a crowd of rats, who came continually hunting for food and lodging in my straw. Sometimes, when I was asleep, they ran across my face, and, more than once, by biting me severely, occasioned the most acute suffering. Unable to get rid of them, and forced to live in their society, I conceived the idea of forming a friendship with them.

"The dungeons of the Bastile are octagonal; the one in which I was now confined had a loop-hole two feet and a half above the floor. On the inside it was two feet long, and about eighteen inches wide; but it gradually diminished towards the exterior, so that on the outside wall it scarcely exceeded three inches in size. From this loop-hole I derived the only light and air I was permitted to enjoy; the stone which formed the base of it served me also for chair and table. When, tired of reclining on a foul and infected pallet, I dragged myself to the loop-hole to enjoy a little fresh air; to lighten the weight of my chains, I rested my elbows and arms on this horizontal stone. Being one day in this attitude, I saw a large rat appear at the other extremity of the loop-hole;

I called to him; he looked at me, without manifesting any symptoms of fear: I gently threw him a piece of bread, taking care not to frighten him by any violent action. He approached-took the bread -went to a little distance to eat it, and appeared to solicit a second piece. I flung him another, but at a less distance; a third, still nearer; and so on by degrees. This continued as long as I had bread to give him; for, after satisfying his appetite, he carried off to a hole the fragments which he had not been able to devour. The following day he came again. I treated him with the same generosity, and added even a morsel of meat, which he appeared to find more palatable than the bread; for this time he ate near to me, which before he had not done. The third day he became sufficiently familiar to take what I offered him from my fingers.

"I had no idea where his dwelling-place was before, but he appeared inclined to change it, to approach nearer to me. He discovered on each side of the window a hole sufficiently large for his purpose; he examined them both, and fixed his abode in the one to the right, which appeared to him the most convenient. On the fifth day, for the first time he came to sleep there. The following morning he paid me a very early visit: I gave him his breakfast; when he had eaten heartily, he left me, and I saw him no more till the next day, when he came, according to custom. I saw, as soon as he issued from his hole, that he was not alone. I observed a female rat peeping from it, and apparently watching our proceedings. I tried to entice her out by throwing her bread and meat: she seemed much more timid than

the other, and for some time refused to take them however, at length she ventured out of the hole by degrees, and seized what I threw half-way towards her. Sometimes she quarrelled with the male; and when she proved either stronger or more skilful, ran back to the hole carrying with her what she had taken. When this happened, the male rat crept close up to me for consolation; and, to revenge himself on the other, ate what I gave him too far from the hole for her to venture to dispute it with him, but always pretending to exhibit his prize as if in bravado. He would then set himself on his haunches, holding the bread or meat between his fore paws like a monkey, and nibbling at it with an air of defiance.

"One day the pride of the female conquered her shyness; she sprang out, and seized between her teeth the morsel which the other was beginning to munch. Neither would let go, and they rolled over each other to the hole, into which the female, who was nearest to it, dragged the male after her. This extraordinary spectacle relieved by contrast the monotony of my ordinary sufferings and recollections. In the bustle of the world, it is difficult to conceive the pleasure I derived from such a trifling source; but there are sensitive minds who will readily understand it.

"When my dinner was brought in, I called my companions: the male ran to me immediately, the female, according to custom, came slowly and timidly, but at length approached close to me, and ventured to take what I offered her from my hand. Some time after, a third appeared,