CHAPTER V 

 INSTINCT 



"L'instinct sait tout, dans les voies invariables qui lui ont 6t6 

 tracees ; il ignore tout, en dehors de les voies. Inspirations sublimes 

 de science, inconsequences e*tonnantes de stupidite*, sont a la fois son 

 partage, suivant que 1'animal agit dans des conditions normales ou 

 dans des conditions accidentelles." FABRE. Souvenirs Entomo- 

 logigues. T. I. 



"We are governed by instinct, as well as cats and goats." 

 VOLTAIRE. Philosophical Dictionary. 



While it may not be necessary to define a term so well known 

 as instinct, it may not be without interest to quote the follow- 

 ing definitions which have been given by various writers: 



" We may call the instincts of animals those faculties implanted in 

 them by the Creator, by which, independent of instruction, observa- 

 tion or experience, and without a knowledge of the end in view, they 

 are all alike impelled to the performance of certain actions tending to 

 the well being of the individual and the preservation of the species."- 

 KIRBY AND SPENCE, Introduction to Entomology, 1858. 



"A propensity prior to experience and independent of instruction." 

 PALEY, Natural Theology. 



"An action, which we ourselves require experience to enable us to 

 perform, when performed by an animal, more especially a very 

 young one, without experience, and when performed by many 

 individuals in the same way, without their knowing for what 

 purpose it is performed, is usually said to be instinctive. But I 

 could show that none of these characters are universal." DARWIN, 

 Origin of Species. 



Instinct is "compound reflex action." HERBERT SPENCER, 

 Principles of Psychology. 



"Instinct is a general term comprising all those faculties of mind 

 which lead to the performance of actions that are adaptive in char- 

 acter, but pursued without necessary knowledge of the relation be- 



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