CHAP. XVIII - INSTINCTS

Summary

The order may not be very obvious, by which I place inftincts next to relations. But I confider them as a fpecies of relation. They contribute, along with the animal organization, to a joint effect, in which view they are related to that organization. In many cafes they refer from one animal to another animal; and, when this is the cafe, become ftrictly relations in a fecond point of view.

An INSTINCT is a propenfity, prior to experience, and independent of inftruction. We contend, that it is by inftinct that the fexes of animals feek each other; that animals cherifh their offspring; that the young quadruped is directed to the teat of its dam; that birds build their nefts, and brood with fo much patience upon their eggs; that infects, which do not fit upon their eggs, depofit them in thofe particular fituations, in which the young, when hatched, find their appropriate food; that it is inftinct, which carries the falmon, and fome other fifh, out of the fea into rivers, for the purpofe of fhedding their fpawn in frefh water.

We may felect: out of this catalogue the incubation of eggs. I entertain no doubt, but that a couple of fparrows hatched in an oven, and kept feparate from the reft of their fpecies would proceed as other fparrows do, in every office which related to the production and prefervation of their brood.