*jg on the instinct of animals, jfan. t8f 



however, to be great reason to believe that here he 

 judges without sufficient reason, for, as in the inter- 

 course of the sexes, except in the human species, and 

 pairing animals, mere animal gratification is blindly 

 pursued without selection of objects ; so in the care of 

 the young, a similar animal instinct appears to operate 

 with the sameirresistable power for a fliort time, after 

 which fliort period it totally, ahd entirely subsides, with- 

 out ever being farther recognised, unlefs when it hap- 

 pens accidentally to be connected, as it in some 

 cases is, with the gregarious instinct. The eagle nou- 

 rishes its young with the most sedulous care, and de- 

 fends them from insult at the hazard of its life with- 

 out the smallest hesitation ; but in a few months, he 

 drives them from his own rock, with furious blows ; 

 ■nor ever from that period recognizes them more. 

 The lionefs, in like manner, suckles her young with 

 the most tender solicitude : in their defence exposes 

 herself to every danger, and denies herself the morsel 

 when pinched for hunger, that her young may enjoy 

 an abundant repast •, but in a few months fhe drives 

 them from her den, nor ever after takes the smallest 

 notice of them nor their concerns. 



The same temporary fury, if I may adopt that 

 phrase, operates even upon the most timid animals 

 in defence of their young. The cow, in her native 

 state, becomes a most desperate afsailant of every ani- 

 mal that approaches aer calfj even the {heep, the meek- 

 est of all animals, will butt at the dog, or any other 

 creature that approaches her lamb ; flie will fiercely^ 

 turn upon tliem, and, with a determined aspect, 

 stamp v>-ith her feet, and threaten the afsailant ; ai 



J 



