Reason and Instinct. 5457 



exists in its actions so far as that difference depends on, or is due to, 

 a difference in the source or origin of those actions. Everything done 

 by an infant of a few days old is, no doubt, in its origin, due to an 

 instinct; by instinct it sucks the mother's breast, the artificial nipple, 

 the finger, anything that is presented in proximity to its mouth ; and 

 instinctively are all the other functions of its little life fulfilled. 

 Perhaps the first symptom of nascent intelligence is the seeming 

 recognition of the voice of the nurse ; but even this is for weeks un- 

 certain, and weeks more must elapse before it may be decisively 

 pronounced that intelligence is fully operative, — that the child under- 

 stands, — that some of its actions are certainly, though still possibly 

 but in a small degree, under the influence of something decidedly 

 higher than instinct : and this is true in the case of the existence which 

 is under our hourly, our unceasing observation, and which is the object 

 of our tenderest care and most unwearying interest and attention. 

 How much more, then, must we look for corresponding difficulties 

 and most fruitful sources of doubt, when we begin the attempt of 

 assigning the actions of an animal, some of them to one source, some 

 to another ; to say of this that it is due to instinct, — of that, that it 

 originates in something that operates otherwise than as instinct 

 operates. No doubt many amid the actions of an animal may be 

 brought, without much hesitation, under the former category ; but of 

 those remaining what will be the proportion presenting matter for 

 inquiry, for examination, for much balancing, now on this side, now on 

 the other? And all this, be it observed, is true in the case of those 

 animals with which we are, so to speak, in the habit of intimate 

 association, — the dog and the horse, for instance. We are deficient in 

 means of communication with them, and they, to a much greater degree, 

 with us. We must be close, skilful, accurate, patient, persevering 

 observers, before we can convey new ideas, ideas out of the old, well- 

 beaten track, to the most intelligent animal ; and still more, before we 

 can receive ideas they may desire to communicate to us. And if the 

 difficulties be such where the facilities of observation and under- 

 standing are out of all measure the greatest, they must of necessity be 

 greatly enhanced when we come to the examination and investigation 

 of the actions of animals, or tribes of animals, little or not at all domes- 

 ticated or brought under the influence of man. Such considerations 

 are amply sufficient to show the existence of many hindrances in the 

 way of our arriving at anything like an entirely satisfactory solution of 

 the question before us. Still 1 hope we may find the materials for at 

 the least approximating to such a solution. 



XV. Q 



