324 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



argue thus ; all draw this conclusion ; all act upon 

 it. 



But suppose the address, and the selection, and 

 the plan, which we perceive in the preparations 

 which many irrational animals make for their 

 young, to be traced to some probable origin, still 

 there is left to be accounted for that which is the 

 source and foundation of these phenomena, that 

 which sets the whole at work, the (fropy/], the pa- 

 rental affection, which I contend to be inexplicable 

 upon any other hypothesis than that of instinct. 



For we shall hardly, I imagine, in brutes, refer 

 their conduct towards their offspring to a sense of 

 duty or of decency, a care of reputation, a com- 

 pliance with public manners, with public laws, or 

 wdth rules of life built upon a long experience of 

 their utility. And all attempts to account for the 

 parental affection from association, I think, fail. 

 With what is it associated ? Most immediately 

 with the throes of parturition, that is, with pain, 

 and terror, and disease. The more remote, but 

 not less strong association, that w^hich depends 

 upon analogy, is all against it. Every thing else 

 which proceeds from the body is cast away and 

 rejected. In birds is it the egg which the hen 

 loves ? or is it the expectation which she cherishes 

 of a future progeny that keeps her upon her nest? 

 What cause has she to expect delight from her 

 progeny ? Can any rational answer be given to 

 the question, why, prior to experience, the brood. 



