130 SAVAGE SURVIVALS 



derstood. For our success as civilized beings and 

 our right to be regarded as members of civilized 

 society depend on the degree of ascendancy which 

 we enable the higher and better parts of our na- 

 ture to achieve over the lower. Our degree of 

 civilization depends on how frequently we enable 

 the *^ gods'' in our nature to come out on top. 



6. The Instinct of Fear. 



This is one of the oldest instincts of this world. 

 It existed long before man, and was inherited by 

 him from pre-human ancestors. Fear first appears 

 somewhere near the worm stage of animal devel- 

 opment, and is found in all animals above this 

 stage. Fear is the instinct to shrink from danger 

 or enemies. It is the retreating or fleeing instinct. 

 The lowest animals, those below the worms, are 

 more or less indifferent in the presence of ene- 

 mies. They act about the same toward enemies 

 as toward friends. But higher animals are more 

 discriminating. The instinct of fear causes them 

 to promptly retreat from the presence of danger- 

 ous individuals. The instinct of fear brings a 

 great improvement in animal behavior. It gives 

 to those who have it a great advantage in the 

 struggle for life over those who do not have it. It 

 is natural to expect fear to appear very early in 

 a world filled as full of danger and enemies as this 

 world is. 



Fear is aroused by the same beings that arouse 

 the fighting instinct. Whether we run or fight in 



