26 Heredity. 



considered, remains the exclusive property of either. The 

 contrast established between instinctive acts and intellectual acts 

 is, nevertheless, perfectly true, but only when we compare the 

 extremes. As instinct rises, it approaches intelligence : as intelli- 

 gence descends, it approaches instinct. This must not be 

 forgotten ; and while differences are borne in mind, the resem- 

 blances also must be noted. 



Intelligence is a mirror which reflects the universe. It is a 

 wonderful instrument, and is in some sense infinite as the world 

 itself, which it encompasses and measures. By the accumulated 

 progress of generations it tends to correspond more perfectly 

 with its object. In its development through time and space, and 

 through the infinite variety of living creatures, it ever pursues its 

 ideal, that is, to comprehend all things, from common phe- 

 nomena up to the eternal and sovereign laws of the Cosmos. 

 Instinct is much more humble : it reflects the world only at a 

 small angle ; its relations are limited ; it is adapted to a restricted 

 medium ; it is fitted only to a small number of circumstances. 

 Instead of being an immense palace, whence a boundless horizon 

 may be seen, it is a lowly cottage, with only one window. But if 

 we look at both instinct and intelligence from without, their 

 processes are the same. 



Nor is it surprising that instinct should be always restricted to 

 the same order of phenomena, since, being unconscious, it cannot 

 compare, deliberate, select, or improve. 



We have still to inquire whence comes the infinite variety of 

 instincts; why each species views the world at one particular angle, 

 and at no other. These differences are, no doubt, owing to the 

 organization ; to enter on such inquiries here would carry us too 

 far from our subject, to which we must return, 



IV. 



A far more difficult question than that of the nature of instincts 

 is the question of their origin. Till now it has not been asked, 

 and is only now logically proposed by the great scientific con- 

 troversy on the origin and variations of species. It is clear that 

 we cannot pretend to decide an open, perhaps unanswerable 

 question, warmly disputed by great authorities. We only suggest 



