OF NATURAL HISTORY. 155 



From the examples I have given, it appears that inftirKfl: is an ori- 

 ginal quality of mind, which, in many animals, may be improved, 

 modified, and extended, by experience ; that fome inftinds are coe- 

 val with birth ; and that others, as fear, anger, the principle of imi- 

 tation, and the power of reafoning, or balancing motives, are gra- 

 dually unfolded, according to the exigencies of the animal. One 

 of the ftrongeft inftinds appears not till near the age of puberty; 

 but, by»bad example, and improper fituations, this inftindive defire 

 is often prematurely excited. The minds of brutes, as well as thofe 

 of men, have original qualities, deftined for the prefervation of the 

 individual and the continuation of the fpecies. The calling forth 

 of thefe qualities is not inftinct, but the exertion or energy of iji- 

 ftindt. Inftinds exift before they ad. What man or brutes learn 

 by experince, though this experience be founded on inftind, cannot 

 with propriety be called inftindive knowledge, but knowledge de- 

 rived from experience and obfervation. Inftind fhould be limited 

 to fuch adions as every individual of a fpecies exerts wjthout the 

 aid either of experience or imitation. Hence inftind may Le de- 

 fined, ' Every original quality of mind which produces particular 

 ' feelings or adions, when the proper cbjeds are prelented to it,' 

 Thefe qualities or inftinds vary in particular fpecies. Some are en- 

 dowed with many, and others with few. In fome they are ftronger, 

 in others weaker ; and their flrength or weaknefs fcems to be ex- 

 adly proportioned to their number. The difference of talents among 

 men who have had the fame culture, arifes from a bhintnefs, or ab- 

 folute deprivation, of fome original or modified inRinds. Tafte, or 

 Jove of particular objeds, whether animated, inanimated, or artifi- 

 cial, is in fome men fo obtufe, that we often fay it is entirely want- 

 ing. Infeds have fewer Inftinds than men or quadrupeds; but the 

 exertions of infeds are fo uniform and ftcady, that they excite 

 the admiration of every beholder. 



2 , U 2 Senfation 



