100 The Descent of Man. Pabt-1. 



other social animal, would gain in our supposed case, as it 

 appears to me, some feeling of right or wrong, or a conscience. 

 For each individual would have an inward sense of possessing 

 certain stronger or more enduring instincts, and others less 

 strong or enduring ; so that there would often be a struggle as to 

 which impulse should be followed; and satisfaction, dissatis- 

 faction, or even misery would be felt, as past impressions were 

 compared during their incessant passage through the mind. In 

 this case an inward monitor would tell the animal that it would 

 have been better to have followed the one impulse rather than 

 the other. The one course ought to have been followed, and the 

 other ought not ; the one would have been right and the other 

 wrong ; but to these terms I shall recur. 



Sociability. — Animals of many kinds are social ; we find even 

 distinct species living together ; for example, some American 

 monkeys ; and united flocks of rooks, jackdaws, and starlings. 

 Man shews the same feeling in his strong love for the dog, which 

 the dog returns with interest. Everyone must have noticed how 

 miserable horses, dogs, sheep, &c, are when separated from 

 their companions, and what strong mutual affection the two 

 former kinds, at least, shew on their reunion. It is curious to 

 speculate on the feelings of a dog, who will rest peacefully for 

 hours in a room with his master or any of the family, without 

 the least notice being taken of him ; but if left for a short time 

 by himself, barks or howls dismally. TVe will confine oui 

 attention to the higher social animals ; and pass over insects, 

 although some of these are social, and aid one another in many 

 important ways. The most common mutual service in the 

 higher animals is to warn one another of danger by means of 

 the united senses of all. Every sportsman knows, as Dr. Jaeger 

 remarks, 7 how difficult it is to approach animals in a herd or 

 troop. Wild horses and cattle do not, I believe, make any 

 danger-signal ; but the attitude of any one of them who first 

 discovers an enemy, warns the others. Babbits stamp loudly on 

 the ground with their hind-feet as a signal : sheep and chamois 

 do the same with their forefeet, uttering likewise a whistle. 

 Many birds, and some mammals, post sentinels, which in the 

 case of seals are said 8 generally to be the females. The leader 



generally accepted, " I cannot but earth is not held by many person* 



" believe that in the hour of their on sc weak a tenure. 



" triumph would be sounded the : ' Die Darwin'sche Theorie,' s. 



" knell of the virtue of mankind !" 101. 



It is to be hoped that the belief in 8 Mr. R. Brown in ' Proc. Zoolog 



the pei manen< e of virtue on this Soc.' 1868, p. 409. 



