ANOMALIES IN IMPULSES 89 



self-restraint. Its fruit is generally negative : it 

 is represented by abstention rather than by action, 

 and can hardly be detected without a deeper 

 insight into the minds of animals than we possess. 

 We may, however, assume that its development 

 beyond a germinal stage is the peculiar stamp of 

 humanity. Man's other impulses have been 

 developed by various animals, some of which are 

 exceedingly remote from him. In providence he 

 is the heir of the insects ; in aesthetic feeling of 

 the birds. His own kin, the mammals, have had 

 little to bequeath to him. But certain of them 

 have transmitted what they could not develop, 

 and have passed on to him germs which, springing 

 into activity, have enabled him to outshine each 

 order of the animal kingdom in its peculiar 

 excellencies. 



On a broad view we may conclude that each tribe 

 of animals is characterized by a general similarity 

 of impulses. But there are striking anomalies. 

 We are impressed by the industry of insects : 

 vast numbers, however, pass their lives in idleness. 

 Wasps that are closely related may be gregarious or 

 solitary in their habits. The crustaceans generally 

 protect themselves by secreting a horny covering ; 

 but the hermit-crab is imperfectly endowed with 

 this capacity, and must take refuge in deserted 

 shells. Nest-building is characteristic of birds ; 

 but the cuckoo lacks the impulse entirely. More- 

 over, we may discover such irregularities as these 

 within the ranks of the same species. What con- 

 trasts do we perceive between the characters of 

 different breeds of dogs and horses ! So, amongst 

 mankind, a general similarity of impulses is 

 broken by astonishing individual and racial differ- 

 ences. Some men appear to have little provi- 

 dence : in others kindness is altogether obscured 

 by cruelty : some are extraordinarily deficient in 



