Reason and Instinct. 



6487 



orbital cavities have been thought to be of more than ordinary 

 capacity." 



The greater relative development of the zygomatic bones, and of 

 the bones of the face altogether, when compared with the capacity of 

 the cranium, indicates in the Pyramidal Skull, which is the type 

 obtaining among peoples or tribes certainly most imperfectly civilized, 

 a more ample extension of the organs subservient to sensation, the 

 same effect being thus produced by lateral expansion as by the for- 

 ward extension of the facial bones in the Prognathous skulls. 



The principal features of the Oval Skull, found among all the 

 civilized nations in the world, " are thus of a negative character : the 

 chief positive distinction is the large development of the cranial 

 cavity, and especially the fulness and elevation of the forehead in 

 proportion to the size of the face ; indicating the predominance of the 

 intellectual powers over those merely instinctive propensities which 

 are more directly connected with sensations" (Hum. Phys. p. 1075). 



Thus, then, we have passed in review a very considerable portion 

 of the entire scale of animated creation ; and, almost throughout the 

 whole of the gradations that have been brought under our notice, we 

 have had occasion to observe, that corresponding with the progressive 

 advances in cerebral development, are similar advances in instinctive 

 and intelligent development. Instinct is not developed independently 

 of Reason, nor Reason independently of Instinct, but both simul- 

 taneously and co-ordinately, though not by any means, possibly, in 

 any similar or definite proportion. Further, we observe that, at some 

 point near the upper end of the scale, Reason began to assert a 

 dominant power, and that from thence its sway continued to increase 

 ceaselessly and irresistibly, until, at last, it became difficult either to 

 allege any actions as due to its undoubted influence, or even to dis- 

 tinguish its operation in actions which, according to strict analogy, 

 ought to be induced by it. 



It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to advance anything in the way of 

 set proof, that Instinct and Reason are, besides being developed 

 simultaneously or co-ordinately, also developed co-operatively ; for, 

 indeed, it is self-evident that the intelligence of the creature — what- 

 ever one it may be that we take for the sake of example or illustration 

 — is made to subserve the natural ends peculiar to it ; or, in other 

 words, the purposes for which it is endowed by the Creator with the 

 mysterious gift of Instinct. The trout, which eschews the detected 

 cheat of the fisherman's fly ; the alligator, which endeavours to con- 

 ceal his advance upon his prey beneath the water ; the flycatcher, 



