The Place of Animals in Human Thought

AT the Congress held at Oxford in September, 1908, those who heard Count Goblet d’Alviella’s address on the “Method and Scope of the History of Religions” must have felt the thrill which announces the stirring of new ideas, when, in a memorable passage, the speaker asked “whether the psychology of animals has not equally some relation to the science of religions?” At any rate, these words came to me as a confirmation of the belief that the study which has engaged my attention for several years, is rapidly advancing towards recognition as a branch of the inquiry into what man is himself. The following chapters on the different answers given to this question when extended from man to animals, were intended, from the first, to form a whole, not complete, indeed, but perhaps fairly comprehensive. I offer them now to the public with my warmest acknowledgments to the scholars whose published works and, in some cases, private hints have made my task possible. I also wish to thank the Editor of the Contemporary Review for his kindness in allowing me to reprint the part of this book which appeared first in that periodical.

Some chapters refer rather to practice than to psychology, and others to myths and fancies rather than to conscious speculation, but all these subjects are so closely connected that it would be difficult to divide their treatment by a hard-and-fast line.

With regard to the illustrations, I am glad to bear grateful testimony to the facilities afforded me by the Directors of the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Hague Gallery, the National Museum at Copenhagen, the Egypt Exploration Fund, and by the Secretary of State for India. H.E. Monsieur Camille Barrère, French Ambassador at Rome, has allowed me to include a photograph of his remarkably fine specimen of a bronze cat; and I have obtained the sanction of Monsieur Marcel Dieulafoy for the reproduction of one of Madame Dieulafoy’s photographs which appeared in his magnificent work on “L’Art Antique de la Perse.” Messrs. Macmillan & Co., Limited, and Messrs. Chapman and Hall, Limited, have permitted photographs to be taken of two plates in books published by them. Finally, Dr. C. Waldstein and Mr. E. B. Havell have been most kind in helping me to give the correct description of some of the plates.

SALÒ, LAGO DI GARDA.

February 15, 1909.

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CONTENTS

I

PAGE SOUL-WANDERING AS IT CONCERNS ANIMALS 11

II

THE GREEK CONCEPTION OF ANIMALS 22

III

ANIMALS AT ROME 44

IV

PLUTARCH THE HUMANE 62

V

MAN AND HIS BROTHER 84

VI

THE FAITH OF IRAN 113

VII

ZOROASTRIAN ZOOLOGY 141

VIII

A RELIGION OF RUTH 166

IX

LINES FROM THE ADI GRANTH 201

X

THE HEBREW CONCEPTION OF ANIMALS 205

XI

“A PEOPLE LIKE UNTO YOU” 221

XII

THE FRIEND OF THE CREATURE 245

XIII

VERSIPELLES 265

XIV

THE HORSE AS HERO 281

XV

ANIMALS IN EASTERN FICTION 306

XVI

THE GROWTH OF MODERN IDEAS ABOUT ANIMALS 336

INDEX 367

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ILLUSTRATIONS

THE EMPEROR AKBAR PERSONALLY DIRECTING THE Frontispiece TYING UP OF A WILD ELEPHANT. Tempera painting in the “Akbar Namah,” by Abu’l Fazl (1597-98). India Museum. Photographed for this work.

DEER WORSHIPPING THE WHEEL OF THE LAW. Tope of Sanchi, drawn 11 by Lieut.-Col. Maisey From Fergusson’s “Tree and Serpent Worship.” By permission of the India Office.