338 
PECULIAR FACULTY IN MAN. 
abstraction in walking or moving to prevent the 
mind from losing its cognizance of the position of 
our persons from moment to moment during those 
periods, but I incline to the belief that as physical 
beings presumed to be in constant motion and in 
continued enterprise we have had this sense given 
us in its ever-careful capacity, and that since most 
usually in contemplation, our eyesight notices 
objects as we pass, relative position of these is as 
a consequence remarked, and therewith also would 
this very concomitant action of the same faculty of 
perceiving localities and relations of objects be 
drawn into operation as a fortunate though acci¬ 
dental result. I deny positively that it is a modified 
action of “ the knowledge and memory of localities.” 
Animals possess this alone,* to man is superadded 
* Notwithstanding this assertion however, there are many 
animals and indeed tribes of animals which in addition to the 
knowledge and memory of especial localities around their imme¬ 
diate dwellings, are in possession of this very faculty now traced 
in man. The fox when pressed by the dogs often runs to a 
lengthened distance from his home, and not unfrequently takes 
a straight course in this flight. When the spot is subsequently ex¬ 
amined he is again found at his old quarters, though perhaps the 
hounds had left him at a distance of twelve miles from it. Migra¬ 
tory birds which indeed take their passage mostly by night , no doubt 
exercise this very power for their means of direction. Nay there 
are instances of birds being detained at sea by tempests, and kept 
on the rigging of sailing ships for very many hours, and yet re¬ 
newing their flight in the very direction they were taking when 
first obligated to recruit their strengths. The bee wanders from 
home to great distances, and then having loaded himself with 
honey, rises into the air and flies directly towards his hive. 
Instances to the same purpose may be seen in “ Hancock on 
Instinct,” and other books, and perhaps there are few persons 
unacquainted with the conduct of dogs, horses, and cats, which 
