386 SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE OP HIGHER VERTEBRATA. 



especially when it departs from its natural instincts to do 

 this. Such is continually the case with the animals just 

 mentioned, as will appear from some striking examples to be 

 mentioned hereafter (Chap. xiv.). We perceive the presence 

 of Intelligence also in the differences of character which we 

 encounter among the various individuals of the same species ; 

 thus every one knows that there are stupid Dogs and clever 

 Dogs, ill-tempered Dogs and good-tempered Dogs, as there 

 are stupid Men and clever Men, ill-tempered Men and good- 

 tempered Men. But no one could distinguish between a 

 stupid Bee and a clever Bee, or between a good-tempered 

 Wasp and an ill-tempered Wasp ; simply because all the 

 actions of these animals are prompted by an unvarying instinct. 

 484. Among Birds, too, there are many manifestations of 

 Intelligence, which constitute a remarkable distinction between 

 their actions and those of Insects ; though the instinctive 

 tendencies of the two classes bear a close correspondence with 

 each other. Their mode of life is nearly the same, so that 

 Birds may be called the Insects of the Vertebrated series, 

 whilst 'Insects may be regarded as the Birds of the Arti- 

 culated ; and there are several curious points of analogy in 

 the structure of their bodies. The usual arts which Birds 

 exhibit in the construction of their habitations, in pro- 

 curing their food, and in escaping from danger, must be 

 regarded (like those of Insects) as instinctive; on account 

 of the unrformity with which they are practised by different 

 individuals of the same species, and the perfection with which 

 they are exercised on the very first occasion, independently of 

 all experience. But in the adaptation of their operations to 

 particular circumstances, Birds display a variety and fertility 

 of resource far surpassing that which is manifested by Insects j 

 as for instance, when they make trial of several means, and 

 select that one which best answers the purpose ; or when they 

 make an obvious improvement from year to year in the com- 

 forts of their dwelling ; or when they are influenced in the 

 choice of a situation by peculiar conditions, such as in a 

 state of nature can scarcely be supposed to affect them. All 

 these are obvious indications of an Intelligence which Insects 

 do not possess ; that which is most wonderful in the actions 

 of the latter (and there are none more wonderful) being the 

 same in all the individuals of one species, being uninfluenced 



