272 The Unity of the Organism 



as though it were living in the natural state. This fact in 

 itself is evidence that the instinct is not determined solely 

 by immediate needs of the individual. But much more 

 convincing evidence furnished by this case to this effect is in 

 the particular way the instinct works. For example, this 

 species possesses cheek pouches for carrying food as do so 

 many rodents which have the storing habit. When nuts, 

 grain, etc., are presented to the animal she very rarely eats 

 them immediately even though manifestly hungry, but carries 

 them away to some distance, one at a time ; going back and 

 forth and placing the articles in her two pouches till these 

 are quite full. And these little pre-storage journeys, as 

 they may be called, are often definite in character. At any 

 given time they end at nearly the same spot, and the animal 

 takes nearly the same position while the article is being pre- 

 pared for and inserted into the pouches. This is clearly 

 the typical procedure in filling the pouches, though it is 

 varied considerably from time to time. 



As to what follows the pouch-filling there is considerable 

 variation — noraially so it appears. In case the animal is 

 hungry she may quietly extract the nuts from the pouches 

 and eat them. Or she may run about for some time with 

 her cheeks bulging full. Or she may take her load off some- 

 where and lay it away either in some cache previously es- 

 tablished or in a new one. The cache may be in a bed of sand 

 if this is at hand ; or it may be in or under some old garment 

 or piece of cloth or paper which the surroundings may 

 present. 



An especially interesting fact noticed by Mr. Stephens 

 is the tendency shown on the part of this squirrel to carry 

 the articles to as distant a place from where it gets them 

 as can well be reached. 



On the whole there is no doubt that we have here a var- 

 iedly illustrative example of activity over and above need 

 in the operation of an instinct. 



