Mr. Sidney Buxton, in one of his amusing papers on
animals in the Animal World for February, says that dogs and horses are, as far as he knows, the only animals sensitive to- ridicule, while cats and birds are wholly unaware that they are being laughed at. He tells of a pony of his own which gets very • cross when disparaging remarks are made upon him, and "becomes furious, and stamps about his stall, putting back his ears, and attempting to bite," if he is openly laughed at, while praise greatly pleases him. The truth is, that it is only those creatures which can feel sympathy with men which can also appreciate ridicule. The horse sypathises evidently with many of his rider's feelings and amusements, while the dog can enter into no small proportion of his feelings. But birds and cats, though often exceedingly affectionate, and full of attachment to individuals, hardly ever attempt to enter into human feelings,—as Cowper's dog Bean,' for instance, entered into the poet's desire to possess himself of the water-lily. The hatred of ridicule always accompanies a capacity for sympathy. Certainly dogs, and probably horses, know the difference between being laughed at in derision, as we laugh at a fool, and being laughed at in admiration, as we laugh at a good comic actor, and enjoy the latter as much as they resent the former. It is questionable, however, whether some parrots do not under- stand and enjoy the practice of making fun of their human acquaintances,—do not appreciate the art of duping, and take pleasure in it.
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