184 



INSTINCTS. 



truth, that if a dog, in pursuit of his master, arrives 

 at a place where three roads meet, he will scent only 

 upon two, without repeating the experiment upon the 

 third, as if he reasoned, that this of course must be 

 the right. 



T. It would be unfortunate indeed, a very imper- 

 fect provision for the safety and comfort of the animal, 

 if instinct was incapable of adapting itself in any 

 measure to circumstances; if it had been so very 

 blind an impulse as not to have any discretion ; con- 

 fined to one invariable course ; and of no use in any 

 novelty of situation. But still this does not exalt in- 

 stinct to the rank of human intelligence > by which 

 the Creator has placed an immeasurable distance 

 between us and the irrational animals. What seems 

 to be the limit of instinct ? 



A. From all we see of instinct, it appears to re- 

 late principally to the preservation of the animal and 

 the continuance of the species. It enables the bird 

 to build its nest, and provide for its young. It is 

 a guide to the animal in given instances. Here it is 

 infallible : and here it ends. It may be a reasoning 

 faculty to a certain extent, as is often necessary, and 

 as therefore it might have been expected from the 

 benevolence of the Creator it would have been. Still, 

 whatever it be, it seems always to have been. We know 

 of no improvement in instinct. We discover no capaci- 

 ty of advancement ; no ability of self cultivation. 

 Society has done nothing, apparently, for the tribes 

 of instinct, as it has done for our species. The ani- 

 mals that herd together remain as much the same, 



