14 INTRODUCTION. 



mixed with brandy, although it makes them drunk and at 

 last unable to work ; when birds which build near human 

 habitations habitually utilise remnants of human work, 

 strings or woollen threads, in building their nests ; * when, 

 as has been observed by G. H. Schneider, lobsters in 

 captivity use bits of linen and paper to hide under, instead 

 of pieces of plants, although they use only the plants if they 

 are given a choice between the two ; when a bee, if a ready- 

 made set of cells be given it, leaves off building and 

 carries its honey into the artificial cells ; when a bird 

 escapes the labor of nest building by using a prepared nest- 

 box or by usurping the nest of another bird ; when, after the 

 same fashion, ants rob others of their nests and establish 

 themselves therein instead of making their own ; when 

 swarms of bees, instead of gathering honey, remove the 

 stores of another hive ; when many animals imitate the voices 

 and cries of others which chance to be in their neighborhood, 

 with the object of defence or of enticement ; in these, and 

 in a thousand similar cases, the relation of which would fill 

 a whole volume, instinct is an impossible cause or motive of 

 such actions. Why do animals of the chase more tfian 

 other animals fear men who carry guns ? Why does a 

 hound tremble if you point a gun at him ? Why do large 

 animals fear man more than do small ? Why do old birds 

 build better nests than young ones ? Not from instinct, 

 but from experience. AVhy does the fox rob the henroost 

 at a time when he knows the master or the servants of the 

 house are away or at table ? Not from instinct, but from 

 reflection. Why does the dog hide the remains of his food 

 that he may use it later ? Not from instinct, but from 

 forethought. When the chamois (like so many other animals) 

 set sentries to warn them of approaching danger, they 

 cannot have learned to do so by instinct, for chamois 



* The Oriole, Ortofus galliu/a, according to Ponchet, now never 

 builds a nest without using scraps falling from man's industries, such as 

 threads, yarn, strips of leather, or even cords, watch-chains, etc. In a 

 wood near Mayence. where paper chases often take place, it builds its 

 nest (according to W. von Reichenau, " On Birds," 1876, p. 62) by 

 weaving the scattered bits of paper, fragments of letters, and journals, 

 with the long grasses of which its nest used to be composed. The 

 same thin? has been observed in the so-called "Baltimore Bird,' 

 (Jassicus Baltimore, in North America 



