aOS NATURAL THEOLOaY. 



could teach the new-dropped animal that the substance from 

 which the scent issued was the material of its food. It had 

 never tasted milk before its birth. None of the animals 

 which are not designed for that nourishment ever offer to 

 Siuck, or to seek out any such food. What is the conclusion, 

 but that the sugescent parts of animals are fitted for their 

 use, and the knowledge of that use put into them ? 



We assert, secondly, that even as to the cases in which 

 the hypothesis has the fairest claim to consideration, it does 

 not at all lessen the force of the argument for intention and 

 design. The doctrine of instinct is that of appetencies, 

 superadded to the constitution of an animal, for the efiectu- 

 ating of a purpose beneficial to the species. The above- 

 stated solution would derive these appetencies from organi- 

 zation ; but then this organization is not less specifically, 

 not less precisely, and therefore not less evidently adapted 

 to the same ends, than the appetencies themselves would be 

 upon the old hypothesis. In this way of considering the 

 subject, sensation supplies the place of foresight ; but this is 

 the effect of contrivance on the part of the Creator. Let it 

 be allowed, for example, that the hen is induced to brooJ 

 upon her eggs by the enjoyment or relief which, in the heat 

 ed state of her abdomen, she experiences from the pressun 

 of round sm.ooth surfaces, or from the application of a tem 

 perate warmth. Ho^v comes this extraordinary heat or 

 itching, or call it what you will, which you suppose to be 

 the cause of the bird's inclination, to be felt just at the time 

 when the inclination itself is wanted ; when it talHes so 

 exactly with the mternal constitution of the egg, and with 

 the help which that constitution requires in order to bring 

 it to maturity ? In my opinion, this solution, if it be accept- 

 ed as to the fact, ought to increase, rather than otherwise, 

 our admiration of the contrivance. A gardener lighting up 

 his stoves just when he wants to force his fruit, and when 

 his trees require the heat, gives not a more certain evidence 

 of design. So again, when a male and female sparrow come 



