134 Unconscious Memory 



fact which we observe but cannot explain, and the reader 

 may say that he prefers to take his stand here, and be 

 content with regarding instinct simply as a matter of 

 fact, the explanation of which is at present beyond our 

 reach. Against this it must be urged, firstly, that clair- 

 voyance is not confined to instinct, but is found also in 

 man ; secondly, that clairvoyance is by no means present 

 in all instincts, and that therefore our experience shows 

 us clairvoyance and instinct as two distinct things — 

 clairvoyance being of great use in explaining instinct, but 

 instinct serving nothing to explain clairvoyance ; thirdly 

 and lastly, that the clairvoyance of the individual will 

 not continue to be so incomprehensible to us, but will be 

 perfectly well explained in the further course of our in- 

 vestigation, while we must give up all hope of explaining 

 instinct in any other way. 



The conception we have thus arrived at enables us to 

 regard instinct as the innermost kernel, so to speak, of 

 every living being. That this is actually the case is shown 

 by the instincts of self-preservation and of the continua- 

 tion of the species which we observe throughout creation, 

 and by the heroic self-abandonment with which the in- 

 dividual will sacrifice welfare, and even life, at the bidding 

 of instinct. We see this when we think of the caterpillar, 

 and how she repairs her cocoon until she yields to ex- 

 haustion ; of the bird, and how she will lay herself to 

 death ; of the disquiet and grief displayed by all migra- 

 tory animals if they are prevented from migrating. A 

 captive cuckoo will always die at the approach of winter 

 through despair at being unable to fly away ; so will the 

 vineyard snail if it is hindered of its winter sleep. The 

 weakest mother will encounter an enemy far surpassing 

 her in strength, and suffer death cheerfuUy for her off- 

 spring's sake. Every year we see fresh cases of people 

 who have been unfortunate going mad or committing 

 suicide. Women who have survived the Caesarian opera- 

 tion allow themselves so little to be deterred from further 



