160 ^n Inquhy respecting the true Nature of Instinct. 



ascription of them to the Corvus Comix; when considered 

 connectively with the actual operations of the creature. The 

 combination of such attributes and operations would be amply 

 sufficient to raise the Crow far above the level of uncivilized 

 Man. 



I have been at some pains to understand the nature of the views 

 laid down by the author, and would not willingly or negligently 

 misrepresent them ; but when I read, under the Section ' Ideas of 

 Reflection,' the knowledge of power explained to consist in an 

 appreciation of cause and effect; and when I find this knowledge, 

 in kind at least, made applicable to the case of animals, and illus- 

 trated by instances of instinctive economy ; and when I again 

 read, under the head of ' Instinctive Powers,' that " the lower 

 animals have their curiosity confined to effects','''' and that " man 

 alone investigates causes,''''^ I am forced to conclude that Intellect 

 and Instinct are confounded. 



Dr. Fleming, when treating of the instinct which causes animals 

 to form habitations, says, " In the arrangement of the entry, 

 ihis instinct displays its extraordinary pozcers. Sometimes the 

 entrance, as in the case of the Otter and Pole-cat, opens into a 

 thicket, or under the cover of a hanging bank. In other cases, as 

 that of a spider, termed by Latreille Mygale ccementaria, the 

 entrance is closed by a door formed of particles of earth ce- 

 mented by silken fibres, and closely resembling the surrounding 

 ground. This door, or rather valve, is united by a silken hinge 

 to the entrance, at its upper side, and so balanced, that when 

 pushed up, it shuts again with its own weight."+ In this instance, 

 which occurs under the head of ' Instinctive Powers,' an intuitive 

 perception, quite distinct from proper intelligence, is evidently 

 implied, and indeed included in the assertion, " this instinct dis- 

 plays its extraordinary powers." Not a word is here said about 

 the design or invention of the architect ; on the contrary, this 

 is considered by the author as an instance of pure non-rational 

 instinct: Avhereas we find, that because " the Ermine will con- 

 ceal a number of eggs in a particular place, and return at 

 intervals to its magazine," and a Fox or a Dog possessed of 

 * Phil, of Zool. vo!. i. p. 258. + Ibid p. 255. 



