58 THE HUMANIZING OF THE BRUTE. 



We may affirm this conclusion with still greater 

 confidence, as almost all the examples brought for- 

 ward by Mr. Peckham are similar to the one we have 



chosen Even when there is question of a whole 



series of sense perceptions which are associated with 

 each other and modify the action of the animal, the 

 criterion of the defenders of animal intelligence cannot 

 be admitted, as instinct always implies the faculty of 

 combining any sensuous perception unconsciously with 

 its corresponding impulse. Hence it is an arbitrary 

 assertion to maintain that this faculty does not suffice 

 or that it loses its character, when there is question. of 

 many sensitive perceptions or of those which arise in 

 the sensitive memory of the animal. As long as we 

 remain within the realm of merely sensuous cognition, 

 there is no reason for calling upon a higher faculty. 

 But, there is one example in Mr. Peckham's book 

 which seems to be of a different nature from the one 

 explained above. Let us shortly consider the inter- 

 esting case. Peckham's description is as follows: 



red hot iron. But this manner of acting is due to experience. 

 For, as we all know, children shrink from a glowing piece of 

 iron only after having experienced the painful consequence 

 of touching it on a former occasion. "A burnt child shuns 

 the fire." Hence an action, though modified by experience, 

 does not necessarily lose its instinctive character. Moreover, 

 the above mentioned criterion eliminates from the realm of 

 instinctive activity every action, from which the element of 

 experience cannot be dissociated. As soon as a new-born pup 

 begins to suck, ^.experiences the pleasant taste of its mother's 

 milk, and its experience enters into and influences the con- 

 tinuation of the action. Consequently, an instinctive action 

 would cease to be instinctive, as soon as it commences. 



