246 



ON THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS OF 



and delicately as not to kill it ; she then rolls it up into a circle, and places 

 it in the sandy nest immediately over the egg. She continues the pursuit 

 till she has counted twelve ; and has, in like manner, deposited twelve cater- 

 pillars one over the other ; and repeats the same process till she has 

 exhausted herself of her entire stock of eggs. She immediately closes the 

 holes and dies, intrusting her eggs to the parent heat of the sun. The egg 

 in each separate cell or aperture is soon hatched, and finds its food duly 

 prepared for it, and from its enfeebled state incapable of resisting its attack, 

 though preserved from putrefaction by the little life that has remained to 

 it. It feeds progressively on the twelve caterpillars ; and by the time it has 

 exhausted them, becomes fitted for and converted into a chrysalis ; in due 

 time it awakes from its dormancy, works its way to the surface of the earth, 

 throws oflT its chrysalid investment, finds itself accommodated with wings, 

 rises into the atmosphere, feeds on the honey of plants instead of on mag- 

 gots ; and at length pursues the very same train of actions to provide 

 itself with a progeny which was pursued by the parent insect the year 

 before. 



In what I have thus far advanced, I have chiefly proved, however, that 

 instinct may exist separately ; I will next proceed to a few examples, in 

 which it will be clear to every one that it may exist in conjunction with 

 each of the other two principles of sensation and intelHgence. 



And, first, as to its union with sensation. Wherever a nervous system 

 is to be traced, which alone is the source of sensation, we have abundant 

 proofs of such an aUiance. We meet with it, without having language by 

 which to describe it, in the glow and elasticity of health, io the satisfaction 

 of a cheerful meal, and in the refreshment of sound and natural sleep after 

 fatigue ; and we meet with it still more obviously, and in diversities which 

 language is capable of characterizing, in all those natural emotions to 

 which we have just adverted, and which, in consequence of such alliance, 

 have obtained the popular name of instinctive sensations or feehngs, but 

 which in reality are peculiar instincts combined with pecuHar feehngs. 



Let us select a few other examples. We are told by Galen,* that on 

 . opening a goat big with young he found one of the young ones alive, which 

 iie hastily snatched up, and took it into a room where there were various 

 vessels severally fitted for the purpose with wine, oil, honey, milk, grains, 

 and fruits. The little kid first rose upon its feet and walked ; then shook 

 itself, and scratched its side with one of its hoofs : it next smelt alternately 

 at all the dishes before it, and at last fixed upon and licked up the milk. 

 In this case the sense of smell went distinctly in aid of the instinctive search 

 after food, and determined the particular kind : so that the instinct and the 

 sensation co-operated. Thus rabbits, when left to the operation of pure 

 instinct, dig holes in the ground for warmth and protection ; but after 

 continuing for some time in a domestic state, and finding that they can 

 obtain a more comfortable asylum by other means, and with less labour, 

 they seldom pursue, even when they have an opportunity, the instinctive 

 process, but burrow in the straw, or whatever material is provided for 

 them. 



In this case the sense of superior comfort combines itself, as in the pre- 

 ceding, with the instinct, and pursues the same end, though by a change 

 of the means. So again, the new-born young of all animals, in what- 

 ever way they take their food, are at first stimulated by instinct ajona 



* r>& Locis, lib. vi. cap. 6. 



