132 ON ZOOLOGY. 



impression. Hence the brute reason is more 

 observable in domesticated animals, where edu- 

 cation has in a certain degree called forth their 

 intellect, than in those which are wild, in which the 

 natural laws have been left to their full operation. 



Under this view therefore, all the common pro- 

 pensities of animals, and all their usual and or- 

 dinary movements may be considered instinctive; 

 since these are their natural attributes, and are 

 so engrafted on the constitution, that no exter- 

 nal circumstance can alter them; and it is only 

 where there is a choice of action, (in which to pro- 

 duce it theivill must be concerned,) that reason 

 may be considered as having any share in the im- 

 pulse. Thus the extreme ingenuity displayed by 

 the bee, in collecting from the petals of flowers 

 the honey which is to form its winter supply, and 

 in constructing the cells for its reception, with 

 that hexagonal and geometrical precision which, 

 if executed by human hands, we should call in- 

 vention of the first order; we denominate instinct; 

 because it is throughout uniform in its operation 

 and effect, is the peculiar attribute of the animal, 

 and the process its constant occupation, upon 

 which its existence altogether depends, and be- 

 yond which, it is not capable of extending its 

 ingenuity. 



The same opinion may be applied to the ant, to 

 the spider, to the beaver, and to many other ani- 

 mals, which evince equal providence in collect- 



