Legal Term: ANIMANLS OF A BASE NATURE

Definition: Those which, though they may be reclaimed, are not Such that at common law a larceny may be committed of them, by reason of the baseness of their nature. Some animals, which are now usually tamed, come within this class, as dogs and cats, and others which, though wild by nature, and oftener reclaimed by art and industry, clearly fall within the same rule, as, bears, foxes, apes, monkeys, ferrets, and the like. 3 Inst. 109,, 1 Hale, P. C. 511, 512, 1 Hawk. P. C. 33, s. 36, 4 Bl. Com. 236, 2 East, P. C. 614. See 1 Saund. Rep. 84, note 2.

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