360 Mr. French's Inquiry concerning Instinct. 



thought. If he reflected before, during, or after the act, or indeed 

 at all, this and similar circumstances Avould make a fine addition, 

 to his stock of knowledge. It would, however, be ridiculous to 

 suppose a Dog, during winter, to indulge himself with anticipated 

 pictures of the next shooting season, and to propose to himself 

 certain improvements in his hunting economy, by reflecting on 

 the events of the season which had past : but which would be a 

 most natural conclusion, if he acted in contingent cases from 

 proper essential intelligence ; his memory being at the same time 

 subservient to such intelligence, like that of man. 



I therefore conclude that Dr. Fleming is mistaken, when, in 

 drawing inferences from the circumstances just alluded to, he 

 observes, that the Dog who sets off by anticipation to meet his 

 master on the road, and thus escapes confinement, reflects upon 

 " the success which would crown his plan :" I conclude the ani- 

 mal to be actuated by immediate perception, and thence to be 

 merely intent upon joining his master ; — that led by an influent 

 perception of the means, he proceeds directly to the act, as far as 

 circumstances will permit ; that therefore such means cannot be 

 regarded as " apian," with respect to the conscious mind of the 

 creature ; although he no doubt experiences a sensible delight in 

 the active state of his immediate perceptions and discriminations ; 

 in having his social impulse gratified ; and would feel pain in its 

 frustration.* " A Partridge," says Mr. White, " came out of a 

 ditch, and ran along shivering with her wings, and crying as if 

 wounded and unable to get from us. "While the dam feigned this 

 distress, a boy who attended me saw the brood, which was small 

 and unable to fly, run for shelter into an old Fox's hole, under the 

 bank." If we suppose intelligence on the part of the Dog, as 

 distinguished from instinct, why not on the part of the Partridge ? 

 and if reflection as to the means takes place before the act, why 

 not subsequently ? in which case both the Dog and the Partridge 

 may be supposed to enjoy a retrospective view of the successful 

 stratagem, and to laugh in their sleeves at the triumph of intellect 

 over force. 



It would indeed appear, if we attended to the mere outward 

 * See Fleming's Phil, of Zool. vol. i. p. 224. 



