between Man and all other Animals. 79 



incubated by the same bird. But here a question arises, 

 that, as numerous instincts in domestic animals, which are 

 now hereditary, are known to have been originally habits 

 superinduced by man's agency, to what extent may not all 

 the innate propensities and consequent habits of animals have 

 originated in the acquired experience of their predecessors ? 



As with all other subjects, we must trace the series up- 

 ward from its more simple phases. In the insect world, we 

 discern the most complicated instincts; modes of procedure of 

 which the consummate wisdom excites our admiration and 

 amazement, and bearing reference to a future generation, in 

 beings which are but creatures of an hour. Can it be sup- 

 posed possible that the progenitors of these derived their 

 habits from acquired experience, and transmitted them as 

 innate instincts to their posterity ? Here we must ascend to 

 a higher source, which, being admitted, the marked uni- 

 formity, also, of the instinctive habits of all wild animals, 

 before commented on, warrant us in concluding that these 

 were from the first imprinted in their constitution, and may, 

 therefore, be legitimately esteemed as forming part of the 

 specific character.* 



The tendency of human influence is every where to destroy 

 whatever conduces not to man's enjoyment, as superfluous, 

 and only cumbering the ground ; but to secure, by every means 

 the reasoning faculties can suggest, a due continuance and 

 never-failing supply of all that tends to the gratification of 

 our species. Brutes, on the contrary, evince indifference to 

 whatever does not immediately concern them ; and although, 

 practically, their influence upon their prey is for the most part 

 decidedly conservative, yet they individually continue to de- 

 stroy without reflection, and endeavour not, by any forbearance, 

 or plan resulting from reasoning, to insure the perpetuity of 

 their provision. That the squirrel or jay should instinctively 

 plant acorns is, of course, nothing whatever to the purpose : 

 we have already tested the sagacity of the former animal ; and 

 we know that the latter, removed from its proper office in 

 wild nature, will bury a bit of glass or clipping of tin as care- 

 fully as it does a seed. 



It may be worth while to devote a few remarks to the con- 

 sideration of the unintentional agency of brutes, towards not 

 only preventing the over-increase of their prey, which would 

 only lead to too much consumption of the food of the latter, 

 and so bring about famine and consequent degeneration from 



* The reader will observe that the doctrine here controverted is but an 

 application of the exploded hypothesis of M. Lamarck. 



g 4 



