The play and education of the young.—The young of mammals are usually under the care of the mother for education and protection until they are nearly adult; and it is generally found that the longest infancy (in proportion to the natural life of the animal) occurs in the most intelligent races. The importance of the play and education period is very great, for it not only gives the young animal an opportunity of training its natural faculties in comparative safety, by exercise of various kinds and by games with companions of its own age and strength; [Pg 263] but it allows the mother to impart, by direct instruction, some of the experience which she has personally gained during her life. The extent of this maternal education is greater than has been generally supposed; and every opportunity should be taken of observing and recording cases of it.[15] The play of young animals also in many cases gives important clues to lost ancestral habits, which are not now to be seen in adult life. The inherited tendency of animals to repeat, during their own development, the history of their race is very great; some striking cases of this will be considered in later chapters. EXERCISES ON CHAPTER XIV. 1. Make a list of cases which you have observed of protective colouration in mammals, specifying (a) the colour of the animal, (b) the colour of its surroundings. 2. Describe any cases which you have observed of mammals having differently-coloured coats in summer and winter. Of what use is the change in colour? 3. Make a list of the mammals you know from observation to walk (a) flat-footed, (b) on their toes, (c) on the tips of their toes. 4. Make a list of the mammals which habitually hop, walk, fly, and swim respectively; and find out, by observation if possible, how the structure is adapted to the method of life. 5. Study the habits of the mole, and try to discover by what modifications it is enabled to burrow so rapidly. 6. What is the difference in the ways in which cows and horses get up and lie down? 7. For what purposes do the following mammals use their tails—cows, squirrels, rabbits? What mammals do you know which are without tails? [Pg 264] 8. Observe and describe the differences—apart from speed—between walking, trotting, and galloping, in the case of the horse. 9. Describe how you have tamed any wild animal. Why is it easier to tame a young animal than an old one? 10. Describe cases of mammals showing antipathy to certain colours. How do you explain the dislike? 11. Which domestic mammals are (a) most shy, (b) most inquisitive, (c) most gentle, (d) most suspicious, (e) most intelligent? 12. Of what shape is the pupil of the eye in a dog, a cat, and a sheep? Does the shape of the pupil change from time to time in any of these animals? (1898)