OF NATURAL HISTORY. 145 



xhanifin. But the great fource of error on this fubjedt Is the uni- 

 form attempt to diftlnguifh Inftindtive from rational motives. I fliall, 

 however, endeavour to (how that no fuch diftin£tIon exifls, and that 

 the reafoning faculty itfelf is a neceflary refult of Inftin(3:. 



The proper method of inveftigating fubje£ts of this kind, is to 

 colledt and arrange the fadls which have been difcovered, and to 

 confider whether thefe fads lead to any general conclufions. This 

 method I have adopted ; and fhall therefore exhibit examples of 

 pure inflindts ; of fuch inftinds as can accommodate themfelves to 

 peculiar circumftances and fituations ; and of inftindls improveable 

 by obfervaticn and experience. In the laft place, I fhall draw feme 

 conclufions. 



I. Of Pure Injiin6is. 



By pure inftlndts, I mean thofe, which, independent of all inftruc- 

 tlon or experience, inflantaneoufly produce certain adions when 

 particular objeds are prefented to animals, or when they are influ- 

 enced by peculiar feelings. Of this clafs the following are ex- 

 amples. 



In the human fpecles, the Inftind of fucking is exerted Imme- 

 diately after birth. This inftind Is not excited by any fmell pecu- 

 liar to the mother, to milk, or to any other fubftance ; for Infants 

 fuck Indifcrlmlnately every thing brought into contad with their 

 mouths. The defire of fucking, therefore, is Innate, and coeval 

 with the appetite for air. 



The voiding of urine and excrement, fneezing, retradlon of the 



mufcles upon the application of any painful ftlmulus, the moving of 



3 t T the 



