As for the reasoning powers in animals, the accounts of monkeys learning by experience to break eggs carefully, and pick off bits of shell, so as not to lose the contents, or of the way in which rats or martens after a while can no longer be caught by the same kind of trap, with innumerable similar facts, show in the plainest way that the reason of animals goes so far as to form by new experience a new hypothesis of cause and effect which will henceforth guide their actions.
We'd be easier to pick off by the demons! This isn't up for debate right now. Just because Rhyn isn't here to beat you all into submission doesn't mean the Council can break up.
A great way to make things easier on the caller is to make cards with the colors, shapes, number or letters on them so that they can just shuffle the cards and pick off the top of the deck.