WHAT DO ANIMALS KNOW? 



the part of each; it is a race instinct: they must go; 

 the Hfe of the race demands it. Or when the old 

 goose covers up her nest, or the rabbit covers her 

 young with a blanket of hair and grass of her own 

 weaving, I do not look upon these things as inde- 

 pendent acts of intelligence: it is the cunning of 

 nature; it is a race instinct. 



Animals, on the whole, know what is necessary 

 for them to know — what the conditions of life have 

 taught their ancestors through countless genera- 

 tions. It is very important, for instance, that 

 amphibians shall have some sense that shall guide 

 them to the water ; and they have such a sense. It 

 is said that young turtles and crocodiles put down 

 anywhere will turn instantly toward the nearest 

 water. It is certain that the beasts of the field have 

 such a sense much more fully developed than has 

 man. It is of vital importance that birds should 

 know how to fly, how to build their nests, how to 

 find their proper food, and when and where to 

 migrate, without instruction or example, otherwise 

 the race might become extinct. 



Richard Jefferies says that most birds' -nests need 

 a structure around them like a cage to keep the 

 young from falling out or from leaving the nest pre- 

 maturely. Now, if such a structure were needed, 

 either the race of birds would have failed, or the 

 structure would have been added. Since neither has 

 happened, we are safe in concluding it is not needed. 

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