ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF INSTINCTS. 18:^) 



low down in the psychological scale as the insects, we are not 

 without evidence of individual variations of instinct. Thus, 

 for instance, Forel observed great diversities of building 

 among the F. truncicola — the nests being sometimes domed, 

 sometimes made under stones, and sometimes excavated in 

 the wood of old trees. Likewise, Buchner observes, " one 

 ant will let herself be killed ratlier than let go the pupa 

 whicli she holds, while another will let them fall and run 

 away like a coward," and similar statements are made by 

 Moggridge. 



But as showing strongly marked individual differences of 

 disposition in animals, and also that such differences may 

 lead to useless or capricious actions having all the strength 

 of incipient instincts, I think a good class of cases to select 

 are those in which one animal conceives a strong though 

 senseless attachment to another animal of a different species. 

 Thus, for instance, I once found a wounded widgeon on the 

 shore, and took it home to my poultry yard. After a time 

 its wounds healed, and I then cut its wings to keep it as a 

 pet. The bird soon became perfectly tame, and then con- 

 ceived a strong, persistent, and unremitting attachment to a 

 peacock which also belonged to the establishment. Wherever 

 the peacock went the widgeon followed like a shadow, so 

 that during the day time the one bird was never seen without 

 the other being in close attendance. If a separation were 

 forcibly effected, the distress of the widgeon was very great, 

 and she would whistle incessantly till restored to her old 

 place waddling behind the tail of the peacock. This devoted 

 attachment was the more remarkable from the fact that it 

 was not in the smallest degree reciprocated by the peacock. 

 He never paid the slightest heed to his constant companion, 

 nor, indeed, did he seem to notice that she was always just 

 behind him. At night he used to roost upon the gable of a 

 cottage. The poor widgeon could not fly to accompany him, 

 and even if she could would probably not have been able to 

 sit upon the gable ; but she always kept as near him as cir- 

 cumstances would permit, for as soon as he flew up to his 

 gable she would squat herseK down upon the ground just 



observed in the text, such instances might be multipUcd indefinitelj ; but as 

 a considerable number of additional and well selected cases are given in 

 Mr. Darwin's essay at the end of this book, it is needless for me to adduce 

 any further illustrations. 



