ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF INSTINCTS. 135 



under the same roof, and in the same straw bed kept each 

 other warm ; and when the dog was taken to the field, the 

 lamentations of the goose were incessant." 



The same author gives cases of attachment between a 

 pigeon and a fowl, a terrier and a hedgehog, a horse and a 

 pig, a horse and a hen, a cat and a mouse, a fox and harriers, 

 an alligator and a cat, &c, all as having fallen under his own 

 observation. {Ibid., p. 162.) 



It is not impossible that the so-called " domestic pets " 

 which are kept by many species of ants* may really be use- 

 less adjuncts to the hive, capricious love of association having 

 perhaps in these ants become by inherited habit truly 

 instinctive. This, at any rate, must be the explanation of the 

 fact that birds of different species will, even in a state of 

 nature, occasionally associate, as is the case with Guinea- 

 fowls and partridges, and, according to Yarrell, with par- 

 tridges and landrails. Such unusual cases among birds in a 

 state of nature are of special interest, because they may then 

 properly be regarded as the beginnings of such a firmly set 

 and truly instinctive association as that which obtains 

 between rooks and starlings, &c.f 



Enough has now been said in support of Proposition I, 

 viz., that non-intcllvjcnt habits of a non-adaptive character 

 occur in individuals. We shall next proceed to Proposition II, 

 viz., that such habits may be inherited. 



That this is the case with tricks of manner in man is a 

 matter to be observed in almost every family, and was long 

 ago pointed out by John Hunter. Mr. Darwin in his MSS 

 gives a case which he himself observed, "and can vouch for 

 its perfect accuracy." " A child who as early as between her 

 fourth and fifth year, when her imagination was pleasantly 

 excited, and at no other time, had a most peculiar trick of 

 rapidly moving her fingers laterally with her hands placed 

 on the side, of her face; and her father had precisely the 



• Sec Animal In/r//ii/i>irf, ])p. 83-4. 



t Prof . Newton, P.R.S., inform* me that "bands of the Golden-orested 

 Wren may frequently be observed in winter consorting with bands of the 

 Coal-Titmouse, uml in ■ 1> m degree with tboee of the Long-tailed KtmouMi 

 while parties of Redpolee and Siskins will for a time join their company, or etce 

 The (looking together of Rooks and Daws is, of course, an everyday 

 occurrence, as i-> also for some months 1 1 1 • - association of Starlings with them, 

 uml in mi 1 1 _\ cases i!i>- combination of nil with Lapwings, 



