INSTINCT. 277 



I presume that, with proper assistants, I should have 

 settled the matter past all doubt; but though the third 

 of November was a sweet day, and, in appearance, exactly- 

 suited to my wishes, yet not a martin was to be seen, and so 

 I was forced, reluctantly, to give up the pursuit. 



I have only to add, that were the bushes, which cover 

 some acres, and are not my own property, to be grubbed and 

 carefully examined, probably those late broods, and perhaps 

 the whole aggregate body of the house-martins of this district, 

 might be found there, in different secret dormitories ; and 

 that, so far from withdrawing into warmer climes, it would 

 appear that they never depart three hundred yards from the 



LETTEE C. 



TO THE SAME. 



THEY who write on natural history, cannot too frequently 

 advert to instinct, that wonderful limited faculty, which, in 

 some instances, raises the brute creation, as it were, above 

 reason, and in others, leaves them so far below it. Phi- 

 losophers have denned instinct to be that secret influence by 

 which every species is impelled naturally to pursue, at all 

 times, the same way, or track, without any teaching or 

 example ; whereas reason, without instruction, would often 

 vary, and do that by any methods which instinct effects 

 by one alone. Now, this maxim must be taken in a qua- 

 lified sense, for there are instances in which instinct does 

 vary and conform to the circumstances of place and con- 

 venience. 



It has been remarked, that every species of bird has a 

 mode of nidification peculiar to itself,* so that a schoolboy 



from peculiar causes, but no proof has yet been brought forward that they do 

 so generally. ED. 



* Birds certainly alter their mode of nidification for peculiar purposes, 

 especially for concealing the nest more effectually. I have observed instances 

 of this with respect to the wren and fly-catcher. ED. 



