CAN AND DO BIRDS REASON? 333 



the feathered tribe) ; second, want of instinctive faculty (which 

 we unanimously place to their credit). But, as I have said 

 before, " instinct " and " intelligence " are sometimes so closely 

 related that it is almost impossible to separate them. It would 

 appear that " instinct " is a something that cannot be properly 

 defined. It is related in its action to the sub-conscious mind of 

 the human being. We sometimes say that we " instinctively " 

 feel, or know by " intuition " (which amounts to the same thing), 

 that such and such a thing is going to happen. Yet we cannot 

 give any reasons sufficient to satisfy ourselves or our questioners. 

 Birds build their nests without any instruction in the art, for the 

 simple reason their " instinct " guides and compels them to do 

 so, that is, merely automatic ; but it becomes volitional when 

 the environment is changed, also the materials out of which 

 nests can be constructed. It is here that their intelligence 

 comes into play, showing that they are not the mere automatons 

 some people believe them to be. We will say a House Swallow 

 (Hirundo neoxena) builds its nest in a certain position ; it is 

 wantonly destroyed two or three times, and the bird gives up 

 the attempt, and moves to a safer locality. Some may say it is 

 prompted by its " instinct." Yes, quite so ; but at the same time 

 may it not be argued that it learnt or received an impression to 

 the effect that the present locality was safe and the recently 

 vacated one unsafe ? 



The more the subject is investigated the firmer grows my 

 conviction that animals (such as quadrupeds and birds) which 

 are continually associated with man, altering their habits, &c. 

 (so as to conform with a new environment, or different con- 

 ditions of living), are possessed of an intelligence and power of 

 reasoning, small and feeble though these may be. The continual 

 warfare waged on them has been instrumental in sharpening their 

 faculties and developing traits that are absent, or, more properly 

 speaking, lying dormant, while in their primitive solitude. 



Launceston, Tasmania. 



