OF NATURAL HISTORY. 153 



lant and inconfiftent of all animals. The remark is juft ; but, inftead 

 of a cenfure, it is an encomium on the fpecies. The adtions of a 

 dog, or a monkey, for the fame reafon, are more various, whimfical, 

 and uncertain, than thofe of a flieep or a cow. 



Moft human inftin£ls receive improvement From experience and 

 obfervation, and are capable of a thoufand modifications. This is 

 another fource of man's fuperiority over the brutes. When we are 

 ftimulated by a particular inftindt, inftead of inftantly obeying the 

 impulfe, another inftintt arifes in oppofition, creates hefitation, and 

 often totally extinguillies the original motive to action. The in- 

 ftindl of fear is daily counteradted by ambition or refentment ; and, 

 in fome minds, fear is too powerful for refentment, or any other 

 inftindl we poflefs. The inftind of anger is often reftrained by the 

 apprehenfion of danger, by the fenfe of propriety, by contempt, and 

 even by compaffion. Sympathy, which is one of our moft amiable 

 inftinds, frequently yields to anger, ambition, and other motives. 

 The inftindl or fenfe of morality is too often thwarted by ambition, 

 refentment, love, fear, and feveral of what. I call modified or com- 

 pounded inftinds, fuch as avarice, envy, &c. 



The following are examples of modified, compounded, or extend- 

 ed inftinds. 



Superftition is the inftind of fear extended to imaginary objeds 

 of terror. 



Devotion is an extenfion of the Inftind of love to the FIrft Caufe, 

 or Author of the Univerfe. 



Reverence or refped for eminent charaders is a fpecies of devo- 

 tion. 



I -j- U Avarice 



