ACTIONS OF ANIMALS EXPLAINED 



its muscles to the proper line of conduct. This is 

 the means by which all animal actions are per- 

 formed, and no argument as to consciousness or 

 reason can be based upon them. 



Again the reason why in answer to the fifth 

 question a dog which has once been stung by a 

 wasp may exhibit symptoms of fear when it merely 

 hears the buzzing of a bluebottle, is simply that 

 all animals have inherited the useful and natural 

 instinct to avoid that which has been found to be 

 injurious. Without this instinct no race of crea- 

 tures could continue to exist ; but there is no need 

 to suppose that the creatures are conscious of 

 their reason for avoiding that which has been 

 found to be injurious. To seek what suits them 

 and to reject what does not, is the fundamental 

 principle of life among plants as well as animals ; 

 and there is no ground for assuming that an ani- 

 mal has consciousness because, when it has been 

 stung by a wasp, its brain retains a record of 

 antipathy against all buzzing insects. 



The sixth question why a bird often dies when 

 robbed of its young does not need answering; 

 because our common experience teaches that birds 

 do not die from that cause. 



Indeed, the indifference of birds to the loss of 

 their young, their eggs, or their mates, would be 

 amazing if we could not see how useful this habit 

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