Instinct. 881 



Instincts are transmissible by heredity. Those only partly formed 

 transmit blind and ill-defined tendencies. A child may inherit a defi- 

 nite instinct for strong drink, or a vague indefinite instinct for adven- 

 ture, which might be satisfied b}^ adventure as a sailor or a soldier. It 

 is seldom that one inherits opinions, but he inherits such form of cere- 

 bral organs as will be likely to develop in him the opinions of his parents, 

 especialty the more important ones, or principles. The reason of this, 

 in part at least, is that specific opinions do not often become so fixed in 

 the feelings and emotional nature as to be instinctive, till late in life, 

 usually after the inheriting generation is born. So that what is trans- 

 mitted is the tendency which the parent has in youth and middle age, 

 to become what he does become in old age. A great many of our acts 

 become instinctive very early, but they are not perfect until they re- 

 ceive a few lessons. We soon learn to dodge or duck the head to avoid 

 a threatened blow or passing missile; we throw up the hands to screen 

 the face and head, and throw them out> before us if we are suddenly 

 tripped up and in danger of falling, and we instinctly run when startled 

 and confronted by sudden dangers of certain sorts. These are not in- 

 stinctive to the new born infant; but because its inherited organization 

 is adapted to them, it has only to be exposed a few times to the proper 

 stimulation to cause them to become instinctive ; just as the pointer 

 dog usually requires a few lessons to lubricate and limber up his instinct 

 for pointing. The instincts by which successive generations of particu- 

 lar families tesd to fall into the same occupations, as sailors, fishermen, 

 musicians, mechanics, thieves, beggars, &c. , are of that partial incom- 

 plete sort which consist of strong tendencies, and will come into work- 

 ing order upon the first exposure to the appropriate stimulations, but 

 which may be kept in the background indefinitely if such exposure be 

 avoided. Sometimes, however, such instincts will assert themselves 

 against education, the influence of friends, and the most obvious con- 

 siderations of interest. Sucking, crying, and movements of limbs are 

 instinctive at birth, and need no further education to b.ecome operative 

 at once. But these are instincts which we outgrow, and which like the 

 thymus gland, belong to childhood and become rudimentary (considered 

 as instincts) when we reach maturity. Most of our instincts we grow 

 into some .time after birth. Among these are the sexual instincts, love 

 of adornment and dress, language, modesty, and those mentioned 

 above, relating to the opinions, principles, and occupations of adult 

 life. Children are instinctively cruel, wanton, and destructive, in their 

 small way, torturing insects and other small animals, breaking windows, 

 &c. These instincts which we inherit from our savage ancestors are 

 usually outgrown and we grow into others of a contrary nature, based 

 upon the wider experiences of civilization. We thus illustrate in our 

 individual lives, the evolution of civilization from savagery. 



