154 THE PHILOSOPHT 



fore exhibit examples of pure Inftin(Sls ; of fuch inftinfts as 

 can accommodate themfelves to peculiar circumftances and 

 fituations *, and of in{lin6ls improveable by obfervaiion and 

 experience. In the laft place, I fhall draw fome conclu- 

 llons. 



I. Of Pure Injlinas, 



By pure inftln(n:s, I mean thofe, which, independent of all 

 inftru<Stion or experience, inftantaneoufly produce certain 

 actions when particular obie(Sts are prefented to animals, or 

 when they are influenced by peculiar feelings. Of this 

 clafs the following are examples. 



In the human fpecies, the inftindl of fucking is exerted 

 immediately after birth. This inftindl is not excited by any 

 fmell peculiar to the mother, to milk, or to any other fub- 

 -ftance 5 for infants fuck indifcriminately every thing brought 

 into contact with their mouths. The deiire of fii:l<irig, 

 therefore, is innate, and coeval with the appetite for air. 



The voiding of urine and excrement, fneezing, retraction 

 of the mufcles upon the application of any painful fdmulu^, 

 the moving of the eye-lids, and other parts of the body, sre 

 likewife effeCls of original inftinCls, and eflential to the ex- 

 iftence of young animals. 



The love of light is exhibited by infants at a very early 

 period. I have remarked evident fyroptoms cf this attach- 

 ment on the third day after birth. When children are far- 

 ther advanced, marks of the various paffions gradually cppear. 

 The paflion of fear is difcoverable at the age of two months. 

 It is called forth by approaching the hand to the child's eye, 

 and by any fudden motion or unufual noife. I once infti- 

 tuted a courfe of experiments to afceriain the periods when 

 the various paffions, principles, or propenfities, of the hu- 

 man mind are unfolded, and to mark the caufes which iirfl 

 l^roduced them. But, in lefs than five months after the. 



