386 SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE OF HIGHER VERTEBRATA. 
especially wlien it departs from its natural instincts to do 
this. Such is continually the case with the animals just 
mentioned, as will appear from some striking examples to be 
mentioned hereafter (Chap. xiv.). We perceive the presence 
of Intelligence also in the differences of character which we 
encounter among the various individuals of the same species ; 
thus every one knows that there are stupid Dogs and clever 
Dogs, ill-tempered Dogs and good-tempered Dogs, as there 
are stupid Men and clever Men, ill-tempered Men and good- 
tempered Men. But no one could distinguish between a 
stupid Bee and a clever Bee, or between a good-tempered 
Wasp and an ill-tempered Wasp ; simply because all the 
actions of these animals are prompted by an unvarying instinct. 
484. Among Birds, too, there are many manifestations of 
Intelligence, which constitute a remarkable distinction between 
their actions and those of Insects; though the instinctive 
tendencies of the two classes bear a close correspondence with 
each other. Their mode of life is nearly the same, so that 
Birds may be called the Insects of the Yertebrated series, 
whilst ‘Insects may be regarded as the Birds of the Arti¬ 
culated ; and there are several curious points of analogy in 
the structure of their bodies. The usual arts which Birds 
exhibit in the construction of their habitations, in pro¬ 
curing their food, and in escaping from danger, must be 
regarded (like those of Insects) as instinctive; on account 
of the uniformity with which they are practised by different 
individuals of the same species, and the perfection with which 
they are exercised on the very first occasion, independently of 
all experience. But in the adaptation of their operations to 
particular circumstances, Birds display a variety and fertility 
of resource far surpassing that which is manifested by Insects; 
—as for instance, when they make trial of several means, and 
select that one which best answers the purpose; or when they 
make an obvious improvement from year to year in the com¬ 
forts of their dwelling; or when they are influenced in the 
choice of a situation by peculiar conditions, such as in a 
state of nature can scarcely be supposed to affect them. All 
these are obvious indications of an Intelligence which Insects 
do not possess; that which is most wonderful in the actions 
of the latter (and there are none more wonderful) being the 
same in all the individuals of one species, being uninfluenced 
