COUCH'S ILLUSTRATIONS OF INSTINCT.

IN the earlier stages of society among a people sufficiently imaginative to have ideas of their own immortality, and reflective enough to have formed some notions of a future statt, the intelligent power of animals seems always to have been a subject of attention. Unskilled in metaphysical refinements, and not possessing any examples of the effect which long ages of cultivation can produce upon a rare human genius, they look with re- spect upon the intelligence of animals, and make no scruple of acknowledg- ing the minds of brutes as akin to their own, and partakers of a future existence. The poor Indian

"thinks, admitted to that equal sky, His faithful dog shall bear him company "; and hounds and horses were and still are slaughtered together with slaves and wives at the funeral of semibarbarous chieftains, in order that on awaking in the next world they may find their wonted accommo- dations. When speculation is substituted for observation and experiment, the schools become occupied in reasoning on the differences between the powers of animals and of man,—treating the mental principle of man as altogether different in its essence from that of brutes : a view to which the assumed dogmas of the Christian revelation may have con- tributed, as well as the fact of learning having been for many ages in the hands of the priesthood.

The conclusions of our forefathers have been shaken of late years by the study of comparative anatomy, throwing light on the close general re- semblances and minute yet important differences in the structure of creatures, as well as by the fashion of a more considerate and philoso- phical observation of the habits of animals ; so that we have come nearer to the notions of unscholastie man. Several later writers on the habits of animals have inclined to allow them an intelligent power, or reason; and Archbishop Whately, in a paper lately published, On Instinct, fairly concedes the point. "As man," says Dr. Whately, "possesses instinct in a lower degree than the brutes, so in a lower degree than man, brutes— at least the higher brutes, possess reason." The great distinction the Archbishop conceives to lie in the power of forming abstractions and of using language "as an instrument of thought." Animals, he admits, can convey a meaning to each other ; and he thinks that parrots fre- quently speak with a meaning. "For they call for food; when displeased, scold; and use expressions in re- ference to particular persona which they have heard applied to them. They evidently have some notion of the general drift of many expressions which they use. Almost every animal which is capable of being tamed can, in some degree, use language as an indication of what passes within. But no animal has the use of language as an instrument of thought.' Man makes use of general signs in the application of his power of abstraction by which he is enabled to reason; and the use of arbitrary general signs, what logicians call common terms,' with a facility of thus using abstraction at pleasure, is a characteristic of man." Among the contributions to the curious subject of animal intelligence, Mr. Couch's Illustrations of Instinct is one of the most elaborate and systematic we have met with, though not perhaps the most coherent as an exposition of a system. The first object of Mr. Couch is to haw life through its various tissues, and, having shown how endowments depend upon aggregations, or the addition of new tissues, to illustrate his principles or alleged principles by examples drawn from the habits of animals, chiefly British. The simplest instance of life, a mere single tissue without ap- proach to a nervous system, Mr. Couch inclines to rate lower than Bichat or Fletcher does : he considers that neither" irritability " nor" sensibility" is found in the very lowest forms of animal life ; and that instinct does not begin till there is volition and the germ of a brain, as it is traced in the ganglionic nerve. In this view there is certainly adeviation from the popular meaning of the word instinct; which often excludes not only the action of will, but even its possession, as plants are said to turn instinctively to the light. This definition of instinct, however, might have been readily received had it been adhered to ; but Mr. Couch (on another occasion) adduces the sucking of an infant as an instinct,—which it doubtless is as an appetite, but the lowest tissue that exists must receive nourishment, and with as much volition possibly as an infant sucks a finger instead of the nipple. On the other hand, Mr. Couch adduces actions as exam- ples of instinct which are clearly modifications of it by descent or educe- tion,—as the superior vigilance and artifice of animals constantly pursued by man or other enemies, if, indeed, these are not true examples of animal reason. Mr. Couch is loose in his other terms ; or rather, perhaps, he ascribes to his views a conclusion which he has not established, and thus begs the question by means of words. He states that "the most com- plicated and most highly endowed of creatures are only constituted such by the addition of new tissues, or the modification of those already existing, with their attending properties, to those possessed by the lowest order in creation." There is a mixture of truth and truism here, that, used as it is, is destructive of all sound reasoning on the main question. Man, no doubt, is as much a creature of tissues as the simplest being whose structure consists of one simple tissue ; but the brain of man is a very different thing from the germ of it in a euttle fish. The words "attending properties," no doubt, include a vast deal ; but the physical source of these properties anatomy cannot trace in any way, or discover even a sense by the inspection of a nerve : what Bichat says of life seems true of the sentient and intelligent principles— the existence can be shown, but not the essence. Mr. Couch too frequently uses the word tissue without any modification at all ; and confounds pro- pensities with instinct, as well as physical changes or individual pecu- liarities, the last of which are evidently the reverse of instinct. The following illustration of "crabbed age and youth" is an example of the shrewdness and ability of the writer in applying facts to a particular sub-. ject, yet of logical failure in supporting his first principle. Instinct seems to us to be a natural action done by a whole race, in the same way under the same conditions ; but the term cannot be applied to the feelings arising from constitutional changes, or the accidents, habits, and experience of a life.

"Whilst identity remains the same, the succession of changes in the consti- tutional balance of the organs is the cause of a display of properties exceedingly different from those which formerly characterized the creature: so that it is open to observation, how different is the aged individual of every kind when compared with those of early youth. The kitten is marked by playfulness, and, from rest- less activity in search of amusement, will for a long time run round and round after its tail; till at last, growing angry at its want of success in the pursuit, it attempts to avenge itself for the disappointment by a bite. Thus sportive, even to neglect of its food, it offers a strong contrast to the sedater animal, that sits motionless and silent in a retired corner for hours together, in patient expectation of the appearance of a mouse. And even the poor young ass, destined to a life of slavery and hardship, enjoys the first weeks of its existence in gambols, with so mach glee, that it is difficult to imagine it the same sedate creature which, when at liberty from toil, stands for hours in complacency so great, and so absorbed in its stillness, that not &muscle can be seen to move.

"Instances in illustration of this fact cannot fail to come under our notice in all our paths; and in no creature is it more conspicuous than in man himself. Nor is this change in him any more than in the inferior creatures, in the progress of in- fancy to age, the result of distaste, occupation, experience, or indeed any mental phse- nomenon whatever, tho.ugh it may be modified hp all of them; except in so far as the mental disposition is in subjection to these circumstances of the bodily frame

But it has one especial effect on the instincts in particular, whereby it comes to be observed in animals more distinctly than in man; and this is, that not only does the development of mutation vary in its force according to the difference of age, bat the kind of manifestation shall also suffer the change; and that which pre-

dominated at one period to such an extent as to form the distinguishing character of the creature, will subsequently give place to another' while the former seems even

to have become extinct: a circumstance which may be judged to arise not only from a variation of balance in the tissue or organ, but also from the preponderancy of the stimuli's which each may exert on the others."

The character of this extract will to some extent indicate that of the work. Mr. Couch is well informed in physiology, and observant of the habits both of animals and man : he has collected a large number of striking facts in reference to actions that belong to volition, rather than involuntary or unconscious motion—as the action of the muscles in obedi- enee to will ; or which at least are indicative of sensation—as the sacking of young creatures. The facts gathered and selected he applies in an in- teresting and clever manner, and often successfully establishes his parti- cular view ; but he fails in connecting it with his main argument. His merit in this respect is confined to suggestions which receive little sup- port, and sometimes-none; from his facts or reasons. Were Mr. Conch's theory established, it would lead, as may be ga- thered, to the purest materialism ; mental power; in this view, depending entirely upon tissues and their organization, and mind itself upon some property of matter. It is therefore right to add, that the author's opinions ale strictly "orthodox," and that he would not attempt to maintain any theory opposed to revealed dogmas. On the contrary, lie thinks that his theories harmonize with the system of Christianity, and that the instinctive desire of man for a future state is the strongest natural argument in favour of the immortality of the soul.

Among the various qualities of animals which are used as illustrations of-the writer's views, are migration, torpidity, contrivances to procure prey, or to escape danger under new circumstances, and the faculty in animals to become tamed, which last Mr. Couch chiefly, though rather strangely, attributes to timidity. To follow hint into any of these sub- jects would carry this paper to an undue length ; but the interesting, though rather miscellaneous choice of facts by which he endeavours to support his views, will furnish some sample extracts.

USK OF THE PEACOCK'S TAIL.

The beauty of the peaoock's plumage was .a theme of admiration in the remotest times; and the bird was sought after as capable of adding. splendour to the mag- nificence of Solomon. The chief display of this beauty ansee from that arrange- ment of long sad gorgeous feathers which spring from the space between the re- gion behind the winks and the origin of the tail; but the useof this to the bird it- self .has been a subject of doubt. At first sight it seems to be no better than a luxuriance of nature, and anencumbrance rather than a benefit. The action by which their splendour is outspread has also been deemed an absurd manifestation of .pride. But men are imperfect interpreters of the actions of animals; and a closer ex- amination of the .habits of this bird will afford a different explanation. The tail of the peacook is of a plain and humble description, and seems to be of no other use besides aiding in the erection of-the long feathers of the loins; while the latter are supplied at their insertion with an arrangement of voluntary muscles, which con- tribute to their elevation, and to the other motions of which they are capable. If surprised by a foe the-peacock presently erects its gorgeous feathers; and the enemy-at once beholds-starting nybeforelinesecreature-wiriole his terror cannot fail to mapifyinte thebulk implied by the circumference of a glittering. circle of themost dazzling hues.; his attention at the same time being distracted by a bun- dred .glaring eyes meeting his gaze in every direction. A hiss from the head in the centre, which in shape and colours resembles that of a serpent, and a rustle from the trembling quills, are-attended by an advance of the -most conspicuous portion of this bulk; wilich is in itself an action of retreat, being caused by a re- ceding motion of the body of the bird. That mustibeabold animal which does not pause at thesight of such an object; .and .a short. interval-is sufficient to in- sure the safety of the bird; but if after all, the enemy should be bold enough to risk an assault, itis most iikely thatits eagerness or rage would:be spent on the glittering appendages,-in whielrease the creature is divested only-of thatwhich a little time will agarasupply. A like explanaticarmay be offered of the use of the long and curious appendages of the-head-and neck of various-kinds of humming- birds, whichrhoweverleable, are pugnacious race.

ATTAINING FOOD.

Derham quotes Olans, ill his account of Norway, as having himself witnessed the fact of a fox dropping the end of its tail among the rocks on the sea-shore' to catch the crabs below, and hauling up and devouring such as laid hold of it. On =own sea-coast, rats also have been known to add a new dish to their dietary by taking crabs; though, it is not easy to imagine how the capture is effected, and certainly ibis not by angling with the same.pensile organ. On the credit of seve- raLpersons, however, it is known that rats have skilfully employed their tails in drawing oil through the narrow neck of a jar when unable to reach it in any other manner. Mr. Murray observed a dormouse to dip its tail into a dish of milk, and then carry it, smeared with the fluid; to its mouth; and similar inge- nuity has been witnessed-in its conveyance- of water, when the little creature could not otherwise abtain a supply. The _modes employed by dogs of differentraces in capturing Alla devouring the crab, and especially that pugnacious species the velvet crab, (Portunus puber,) well illustrate the experience which has become propagated in the breed over the. ignorance of theumnitiated. On the first discovery of the prey; a terrier-runs in to seize it, and is immediately and severely bitten in the nose. But a sedate Newfoundland dog of my acquaintance proceeds more soberly. in his work: he lays his paw on it, to arrest Alin its escape; then tumbling it over, he bares -his teeth, and seizing it with the month, throws the crab aloft: it falls upon the stunts the shell is cracked beyond redemption, and then the dainty dish is de- !MUCCI at his-leisure.

SAGACITY OF THE MARTIN.

The-martin, (Rimed° urbica,) in nest-building, manifests more confidence in maw than any other of the feathered tribes. Their time for-working in the emo- tion of these clay tenements is in the early part of the day, so that the mortar may have the benefit of the drying-influence of the sun, the afternoon being em- ployed in hawking after-food. Brit in a situation near the sea, which was covered by-the tide at their-usual time for- labour; these birds have exercised so much re- flection on the natural phrenomena of the-ebb and flow of the tide, as to employ the morning in collecting food; reserving their labour for the time when, they reasoned, their materials would be accessible to them. The mortar is conveyed -a pellet on the top of the-bill; and they are careful not to hasten the structure too fast, lest its own weight while loaded with moisture should bring it to the ground. An instance is remembered where, from some such cause of suspicion as to the stability of the edifice, a martin had recourse to the wonderful expedient ofworking in a straw as a binding beam along the curve of the structure. The ends were, it seems, secured without difficulty; but the efforts of the little builder to bend down the arch formed by the rising of the middle were in vain, for when- ever the pressure was removed it persisted in maintaining its elasticity. The baffled bird glanced about, as if in contemplation of the difficulty, and seemed ready to receive any suggestion which might be offered; till; tired of watching the, inrariable result of so many efforts made in vain, the observer walked on. Returning an hour- or two afterwards, the little architect was observed to have resorted to the only plan which could be effectual—be bad left the ends free, which thus projected a little from the mortar, and the structure was complete at List.

PUNISHMENT OF DISHONESTY AMONG THE ROOKS.

In correspondence-with the principles of a partial development of the -higher- pre- rogatives of mental ,excellency, we discern in animal actions methods of pro- ceeding which it is hard not to regard as of a moral or intellectual character, but which, on investigation, seem to be merely politic. We witness among birds the execution of justice on such culprits- as offend against the principles and regu- lations of their community. The rook-offers a familiar example of this in refusing to build its nest in privacy, or anywhere but in the neighbourhood of some digni- fied mansion; and as the nests of this bird require repair in spring, it often hap- pens that the new materials are not to be obtained near at hand, and they are compelled to search for twigs at a distanoe, or else to break them off nearer home while in a growing condition, which is a work of much labour- To the younger members of the community, not learned in the laws of meant and teens, this is an irksome-task; and they are not long in coming to the conclusion that much trouble may be saved by watching their opportunity, and helping themselves from the growing structures of older builders around them in their absence,—little imagin- ing, we dare say, that their proprietors will detect the loss of here one and there another of the twigs inserted in the walls of their edifices. The discovering that they have been robbed is, indeed, no small proof of observation and reasoning; for the actual carrying off of their goods is never or but rarely seen by the owners, as the rogues take care not to,be caught in the fact; and we know that an egg may be taken away and the parent bird be none the wiser. Birds are more alive to the least change in the external look of the nest than to the eggs within. But the rascals among rooks have little calculated on the power of observation of their' older neighbours, and bow well they from experience can compare the work done, and compute the time it ought to have taken if they had worked honestlyand found their own materials. The wrong. doers being discovered, the punishment hi appropriate to the -offence: by the destruction of their dishonest work therare taught that they who build most find their own bricks or sticks, not their neigh- bours'; and that if they-wish to live in the enjoyment of the advantages of the social condition, they must endeavour to conform their actions to the principlesmf, the rookery of which they have been made members.