CHAPTER V 



FAMILY INSTINCTS 



IT may appear strange that instincts are first 

 chosen to illustrate this Theory, for of all 

 characters they are the least known or under- 

 stood, and only in recent years have they been 

 systematically studied, and been given an im- 

 portant place among characters as a whole. 



They have been chosen because, as family 

 characters, they well and clearly illustrate the 

 Theory. 



The vast majority of parents have an in- 

 stinct which compels them to sacrifice them- 

 selves for the sake of their young ; this 

 sacrificing instinct is present in both sexes, 

 and varies according to the age of the young. 

 When the progeny is very young it is strongest, 

 and as it grows older so the instinct becomes 

 less strong : finally, when the progeny is full 

 grown, it entirely ceases, and in many cases is 

 replaced by another instinct, which compels 

 the parents to drive away their progeny. The 



