50 
INSTINCT OR INTELLIGENCE? 
The bird is without ratiocinati^'e power, but endowed with something 
higher and better than instinct. 
Hear what Brelim says : — 
It must not be forgotten that in questions of this nature we are 
reduced to the invention of hypotheses in order to account for certain 
phenomena which the animals present. These we understand but 
partially. At times we believe ourselves to be witnesses of the 
succession of their thoughts, the sequence of their judgments; but we 
cannot determine how far we are in the right. Many facts are still for 
us quite enigmatical and inexplicable. Are we sure that it is really 
with a view to the wants of the future that certain birds accumulate 
provisions ? Do we know why some species migrate when the land 
which they abandon still supplies an abundant nutriment ? Can we 
fully explain the modifications of form and of structure which they 
bring to bear upon the building of tlieir nests, or the diflferences in their 
mode of reproduction ? Instead of having recourse to conjectures to 
account for these perplexing circumstances, it would be more reasonable 
if we frankly confessed our ignorance. Future observations may solve 
the problem of these apparent mysteries ; and by denying that they 
are really mysteries, we shall encourage further research and inquiry. 
It is veiy convenient, but at the same time it is unworthy of the 
philosophical spirit, to attempt to supply our deficiency of knowledge 
by a suggestion of the supernatural ; for, by accepting the latter, we 
abandon the right and privilege of investigation. 
Whoever denies to the bird intelligence, and intelligence consider- 
ably developed, knows nothing of his true nature. He leaves out of 
sight the fact that he is capable of being educated; that he can be 
accustomed to leave and return to his cage; that he can be trained to 
imitate human speech ; that, in a word, he can be taught almost 
anything; and that, consequently, his faculties rise far above an un- 
conscious, inappreciable, and unreasoning force like that of instinct. 
With respect to the nervous system of the bird, it occupies, as 
might be supposed, a middle place between that of the reptile and 
that of the mammal. The bird's brain is relatively larger, especially 
as regards the size of the cerebrum proper, than the reptile's; but 
