The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to SexDarwin, Charles
History
The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex
Darwin, Charles
Evolution (Biology); Human beings -- Origin; Sex differences; Sexual dimorphism (Animals); Sexual selection in animals
The habitual use of articulate language is, however, peculiar to man;
but he uses, in common with the lower animals, inarticulate cries to
express his meaning, aided by gestures and the movements of the muscles
of the face. (51. See a discussion on this subject in Mr. E.B. Tylor’s
very interesting work, ‘Researches into the Early History of Mankind,’
1865, chaps. ii. to iv.) This especially holds good with the more
simple and vivid feelings, which are but little connected with our
higher intelligence. Our cries of pain, fear, surprise, anger, together
with their appropriate actions, and the murmur of a mother to her
beloved child are more expressive than any words. That which
distinguishes man from the lower animals is not the understanding of
articulate sounds, for, as every one knows, dogs understand many words
and sentences. In this respect they are at the same stage of
development as infants, between the ages of ten and twelve months, who
understand many words and short sentences, but cannot yet utter a
single word. It is not the mere articulation which is our
distinguishing character, for parrots and other birds possess this
power. Nor is it the mere capacity of connecting definite sounds with
definite ideas; for it is certain that some parrots, which have been
taught to speak, connect unerringly words with things, and persons with
events. (52. I have received several detailed accounts to this effect.
Admiral Sir B.J. Sulivan, whom I know to be a careful observer, assures
me that an African parrot, long kept in his father’s house, invariably
called certain persons of the household, as well as visitors, by their
names. He said “good morning” to every one at breakfast, and “good
night” to each as they left the room at night, and never reversed these
salutations. To Sir B.J. Sulivan’s father, he used to add to the “ good
morning” a short sentence, which was never once repeated after his
father’s death. He scolded violently a strange dog which came into the
room through the open window; and he scolded another parrot (saying
“you naughty polly”) which had got out of its cage, and was eating
apples on the kitchen table. See also, to the same effect, Houzeau on
parrots, ‘Facultés Mentales,’ tom. ii. p. 309. Dr. A. Moschkau informs
me that he knew a starling which never made a mistake in saying in
German “good morning” to persons arriving, and “good bye, old fellow,”
to those departing. I could add several other such cases.) The lower
animals differ from man solely in his almost infinitely larger power of
associating together the most diversified sounds and ideas; and this
obviously depends on the high development of his mental powers.
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