PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOGV. 



nials, in general, seem to -have a tolerably correct notion of 

 their own powers, as we do not often see them attempting 

 to accomplish objects for which their strength is inadequate. 

 Thus, we have seen a pointer which, if a hare was wound- 

 ed, would pursue with the utmost keenness, but if other- 

 wise, would witness her escape without exertion. It is the 

 knowledge of the variety of power which sometimes makes 

 a horse run away with a bad rider, when he would not even 

 make the attempt with a good one. 



4. Truth. Though many have endeavoured to give a 

 satisfactory answer to the question, " What is Truth ?" 

 few have succeeded in the attempt. The failure, we ap- 

 prehend, has in a great measure arisen from the variety of 

 meanings attached to the term, and the impossibillity of 

 giving a definition which shall include the whole, indepen- 

 dent altogether of our limited acquirements. Thus, truth 

 is by some considered as opposed to falsehood, by others 

 to ignorance, and by many to duty. At present, we shall 

 consider Truth as expressing the actual existence of things. 



Our knowledge derived from the impressions made on the 

 senses, and from reflection > or experience, is to every one 

 the standard by which he judges of truth. In consequence 

 of the origin of this idea of reflection, a thing may be true, 

 which, from experience, we cannot affirm ; or false, which 

 we cannot deny. 



In the acquisition of truth, we are aided by Experience 

 and Testimony. 



(a.) Experience.- The value of the information furnish- 

 ed by experience, must necessarily depend on the success- 

 ful employment of the various instruments of our percep- 

 tion and powers of reflection. Man appears to attend to 

 the exercise of those powers with greater intensity, and to 

 vary and repeat the operations which they perform more fre- 



