ly. In the
elephant this association of ideas is even more remarkable; indeed, he
understands what is said to him better than any other animal; his
reasoning powers are most extraordinary. Promise him rewards, and he
will make wonderful exertion. He is also extremely alive to a sense of
shame. The elephants were employed to transport the heavy artillery in
India. One of the finest attempted in vain to force a gun through a
swamp. `Take away that lazy beast,' said the director `and bring
another.' The animal was so stung with the reproach, that it used so
much exertion to force the gun on with its head, as to fracture its
skull, and it fell dead. When Chunee, the elephant which was so long in
Exeter Change, was ordered as usual to take up a sixpence with his
trunk, it happened one day that the sixpence rolled against the
skirting-board, out of his reach. Chunee stopped, and reflected a
little while, and then, drawing the air into his trunk, he threw it out
with all his force against the skirting-board; the rebound of the air
from the skirting-board blew the sixpence towards him, and he was
enabled to reach it."

"That was very clever of him," replied William.

"Yes; it was a proof of thought, with a knowledge of cause and effect.
There was a curious instance of a horse, which, by the bye, I consider
the most noble animal of creation, which was ridden round by his master,
to deliver newspapers. He invariably stopped at the doors where papers
were to be left; but it happened that two people, living at different
houses, took in a weekly newspaper between them; and it was agreed, that
one should have the first reading of it on one week, and the other on
the following. After a short time the horse became accustomed to this
arrangement, and stopped at the one house on the one week, and at the
other house on the following, never making a mistake."

"That was very curious; what a sagacious animal he must have been!"
observed William.

"Animals also are, as you know, capable of receiving instruction, which
is another proof of reasoning powers. The elephant, the horse, the dog,
the pig, even birds may be taught a great deal."

"But then, papa, I still wish to know where the line is to be drawn
between reason and instinct."

"I was about to come to that very point, William. When animals follow
their instinct in providing their food, bringing up their young, and in
their precautions against danger, they follow ce