...of a plastic nature ; of a system of machinery ; of diseased bodily action ; of models impressed on the brain; nor of organic shootings-out : — it is...content ourselves. I here say nothing of that supposed connexion of the instinct of animals with their sensations, which has been introduced into many definitions...

...machinery; of diseased bodily action; of models impressed on the brain ; nor of organic shootings-out:—it is not the effect of the habitual determination for...instinct of animals with their sensations, which has been introduced into many definitions of this mysterious power, for two reasons. In the first place, this...

...causes are the instincts of animals developed '. Iristinct is a natural disposition to act agreeably to the wellbeing of the individual and the preservation of the species, without deliberate choice of means, or intelligent perception of the result. The perfection of instinct...

...nor is it either the impulse of the Deity, or reason. Without pretending to give a logical defmition of it, which, while we are ignorant of the essence...which is, in fact, merely a confession of ignorance, wo must, in the present state of metaphysical science, content ourselves. I here say nothing of that...

...they are impelled to the performance of certain actions tending to the wellbeing of the individual and preservation of the species ; and with this description,...state of metaphysical science, content ourselves." 6. More than the third part of a century has passed since those lines were written, and the state of...

...result of a plastic nature; of a system of machinery; of diseased bodily action ; of models impressed on the brain ; nor of organic shootings-out : — it...supposed connection of the instinct of animals with their tensations, which has been introduced into many definitions of this mysterious power, for two reasons....

...observation or experience, and without a knowledge of the end in view, they are impelled to perform certain actions tending to the well-being of the individual and the preservation of the species." I at once admit that I do differ in opinion, very materially, in my definition of the instinct of insects;...

...or experience, and without a knowledge of the end in view, they are impelled to the performance of actions tending to the well-being of the individual and the preservation of the species."* Says Darwin, " An action, which we ourselves require experience. to enable us to perform, when per*...

...examination, with the general result that while Professor Morgan agrees that instinctive acts tend to the well-being of the individual and the preservation of the species he does not hold that the biological end is the objective mark of an instinct. On the other hand approval...

...Spence's definition, which we have taken as our text, is his characterisation of instinctive acts as '' tending to the well-being of the individual and the preservation of the species." Hero we have Mr. Marshall with us, for he too lays stress on the fact that instinctive behaviour has...