212 MODERN TRAINING. 



series of generations, became instinctive, the other educa- 

 tional qualities, most of which were more uniformly and 

 thoroughly taught and practiced, did not at the same time 

 and in like manner become instinctive. If backing were 

 uniformly taught there would be more show of reason in 

 the theory of instinct, but outside of the dogs trained by 

 experts, backing is not generally taught. A multitude of 

 shooters own but one dog, and hence cannot train the dog 

 to back. Many, who own more than one, cannot enforce 

 backing or do not attempt it; and such has been the case 

 for many generations. Thus a large percentage were never 

 educated to it, or never had the opportunity; hence it would 

 be impossible for the so-called instinct to be so uniformly 

 present in a race, by education, when but an exceedingly 

 small percentage of the race was taught it. All sportsmen 

 know that it is not present as uniformly in setters as the in- 

 stinct to point; in fact, it is very irregular in all its proper- 

 ties. If it were an instinct, it would be more likely to be 

 obliterated by disuse than to be originated and perpetuated 

 by education. Nevertheless this is all by the way, for it has 

 very little relation to the true nature of instinct. It is 

 well known to scientists that a true instinct is for the self- 

 preservation of the individual or the perpetuation of the 

 species. The instincts of birds to build their nests, sit on 

 their eggs, migrate, etc., are true instincts. The bird will 

 build the first nest without any experience, quite as well as 

 the last. The young of mammalia nurse instinctively. A 

 m-ultitude of other instances could be enumerated, but they 

 would all show that instincts were strictly for the benefit of 

 the individual in gaining a food supply or other acts of self- 

 preservation, as in fleeing from danger, etc.; or in the pres- 

 ervation of the species. Hence it is extremely unreason- 

 able to suppose that since animals do not acquire an instinct 

 for the benefit of other animals, the dog would acquire an 



