On the Connexion of Reason with Instinct. 5667 



safety to this than to the chance of escape by seeking- it in tbe mere 

 rapidity of flight. 



A hare was seen running down the slope of a hill, by the side of a 

 hedge in a turnip-field, pursued by a couple of dogs. As the dogs 

 came into tbe field, the hare stopped and lifted her ears, in the attitude 

 of listening; and when they had come near her, within a little more 

 than the distance of a gun-shot, she ran backward for some distance 

 along her own track, and then, by a sudden spring, threw herself on 

 one side of her former course into the midst of the turnips, where she 

 remained altogether quiet. The dogs passed onward at a swift rate, 

 and, as soon as they had gone forward on her track, by another bound 

 the hare sprung back to the place she had quitted on her backward 

 course, and ran upward along her own descending line, — thus con- 

 founding the downward with the upward way. When the dogs had 

 proceeded to the lower extent of the hare's course they stopped short, 

 and seemed at a loss how to act; and this delay of theirs enabled the 

 persecuted animal to accomplish an easy escape. This disposition of 

 the hare to leave a powerful scent in its footsteps might appear to be 

 one of the besetting misfortunes of its nature; but the evil is casual 

 and transient, while the benefit and pleasure to itself is constant, being 

 the principal means by which they follow and find each other in the 

 fields where they meet for their amusement. 



I will give another example, as related in the ' History of 

 the Rev. Mr. Moffat's Missionary Labours in Southern Africa/ 

 Chapter X. 



The lion has been seen to make an error in the calculation of 

 distance, in taking a leap, and then to show signs of reflection on the 

 cause of the error, with the obvious view to correct it. A large lion 

 had crept towards a short black stump which much resembled the 

 human form, and, having approached within about a dozen yards, it 

 bounded on its supposed prey, when, to his mortification, he fell short 

 of it by a foot or two. According to the testimony of a native, who 

 had been watching his motions, and who joined the missionary soon 

 after, the lion lay for some time steadfastly eyeing his supposed 

 meal. He then rose up, smelled at the object, and then returned 

 to the spot from which he had begun his first leap. He then 

 leaped four several times, till at last he placed his paw on the 

 imagined prize. 



Jonathan Couch. 



