Dear WW: Animal intelligence is very difficult to measure. I have always been very fond of cats,
ut do not share your high regard for their intelligence. I remember a psychologist telling me that
pigs were so smart they couldn't be used as test animals, because they so quickly figured out
what the test was about they gave very misleading results. I think that intelligence in animals is
likely to parallel closely the benefits they derive from it. I think I might nominate your pal the
hippopotamus, as among the most stupid, because it has virtually no predators to fear and hardly
any decisions to make. Now it occurs to me that the elephant also with no predators except man
to fear is quite smart. At least it can be taught taught, and allegedly has a proverbial memory.
Whi;ch reminds me of the legend about the mule that remembered for many years having been
tormented,until it finally got a chance at revenge. I'll have to go see if I can find that story.
