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Show 42 THE PHlNCIPLE OF CrrAP. I. am well aware, in a very iinperfect manner, the acquire-· ment of reflex actions, because they are often brought into play in connection with movements expressive of our emotions; and it was necessary to show that at least son1e of them 1night have been first acquired through the will in order to satisfy a desire, or to relieve a disagreeable sensation. Associated habit~tal rnovmnents in the lower anin~als. -I have already given in the case of Man several instances of 1novements, associated with various states of the mind or body, which are now purposeless, but which were originally of use, and are still of use under certain circumstances. As this subject is very inlportant for us, I will here give a considerable number of analogous facts, with reference to animals; although many of them are of a very trifling nature. My object is to show that certain movements were originally performed for a definite end, and that, under nearly the san1e circumstances, they are still pertinaciously performed through habit when not of the least use. That the tendency in n1ost of the following cases is inherited, we may infer from such actions being performed in the same manner by all the individual~, young and old, of the sa1ne species. We shall also see that they are excited by the most diversified, often circuitous, and sometimes mistaken associations. Dogs, when they wish to go to sleep on a carpet or other hard. surface, generally turn round and round and scratch the ground with their fore-paws in a senseless manner, as if they intended to trample down the grass and scoop out a hollow, as no doubt their wild parents did, when they lived on open grassy plains or in the woods. Jackals, fennecs, and other allied animals in the Zoological Gardens, treat their straw in CHAP. I. SERVICEABLE ASSOCIATED HABITS. 43 this manner; but it is a rather odd circumstance that the keepers, after observing for some months, have never seen the wolves thus behave. A semi-idiotic dog-and an animal in this condition would be particularly liable to follow a senseless habit-was observed by a friend to turn co1npletely round on a carpet thirteen times before going to sleep. l\fany carnivorous animals, as they crawl towards their p1·ey and prepare to rush or spring on it, lower their heads and crouch, partly, as it would appear, to hide themselves, and partly to get ready for their rush; and this habit in an exaggerated form has become hereditary in our pointers and setters. Now I have noticed scores of times that when two strange dogs meet on an open road, the one which first sees the other, though at the distance of one or two hundred yards, after the first glance always lowers its head, generally crouches a little, or even lies down; that is, he takes the proper attitude for concealing hiinself and for making a rush or spring, although the road is quite open and the distance great. Again, dogs of all kinds when intently watching and slowly approaching their prey, frequently keep one of their fore-legs doubled up for a long time, ready for the next cautious step; and this is eminent! y characteristic of the pointer. But from habit they behave in · exactly the same manner Whenever their Fig. 4. Small dog watching a cat on a attention is aroused (fig. table. From a photograph taken by lYir. 4) I Rejlander. · have seen a doo- b at the foot of a high wall, listening attentively to a sound on the opposite side, with one leg· doubled up |
