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Of course animals think, I’d say. But you say, “Many [scientists] theorized that nonhuman animals react to their surroundings without actually thinking.” My observation over the decades has been that most humans do the same, most of the time.

George Blender
San Diego, Calif.

You don’t need all the elaborate experiments described in the article. If you have worked at all with retrievers, you know the answer. A dog that is mystified as to the location of a downed bird looks to his pet human for help. The cocked head and furrowed brow say, “I don’t know, boss. Can you give me a hint?” clearer than any spoken words. The uncertainty is palpable.

Anthony Arnold
Novato, Calif.