The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-08-12

Inc similarity between The SIMPLE IN
sunctive actons Of animals and their ottlina-
ny organic functions is SO great as to Iced US
TO suppose that both sets OF operations are
arranged upon similar plans, though these
may moi be Identical. and that both are carried
ON without the lorelhought or the conscious
ness OF the animal. Thus the young bee,
on the day that il first leaves the cell, with
ont teaching and without experience, begins
to collect honey and form wax, and build
up its hexagonal cell, according to the form
which its plogenitors have used from the
earliest generations. Birds build nests Of a
certain structure after their kinds, and many
species at certain seasons, excited by some
internal impulse, take their migratory flight
to other countries The insect which never
experienced a parents care or a mothers
example, labors assiduously and effectively
Tor the future development and sustenance
OF an offspring which it, in its turn, is DOOM
ed never to behold. Others toll all sum-
mer, and lay up stores for winter without
ever having experienced the severity Of such
season, or being in any sensible way
aware Of its approach. We know that
such actions are the result Of involuntary
and unreflective impulses, because we often
find them performed in vain. Sir Joseph
Banks had tame beaver which was al
lowed to range at liberty i'm ditch about
his grounds, and was at all seasons literally
supplied with food. One Gay, about the
end Of autumn, it was discovered in the
ditch very busily engaged in attempting to
construct a dam after the manner Of its
companions in state OF nature. This was
evidently the blind impulse Of its instinc-
tive feelings, for moments exercise Of the
lowest degree Of reflection must have shown
it that such labor, under the circumstances
in which it was placed, was altogether su-
perfiuous. A common quail was kept in a
cage, and became quite tame and reconcil.
ed to its food. At the period OF its natural
migration il became exceedingly restless
and sleepless: it beat its head against the
cage in many vain efforts to escape, and on
examination It's skin was found several de-
grees above its usual temperature, A bee,
which can fly homewards, one or two miles,
in straight line TO its hive, with extreme
accuracy, if it happens to enter an open
window in a room, will exhaust all its ef
lorls in attempting to get out at the oppo-
site window which is closed down, but new.
er pauses to think Of retracing its flight a
little way backwards, SO as to fly out at the
opening at which it entered. We often
observe dog, when going to sleep on the
floor, turn himself several times round be-
fore he lies down, and this is Just one Of
the lingering instincts which he has retain
ed; while in his wild state he is accusiom-
ed thus to prepare his bed amid the tall
grass or rushes. An acute observer of ami
nal habits has remarked that iackdaw,
which, for want Of its usual place Of abode,
had for It's nest made choice Of rabbit
hole, was often sorely perplexed in what
way to get the long sticks Of which its nest
was TO be formed, drawn within the narrow
entrance. Again and again did il attempt
to pull in the piece Of sick, while it held
it in the middle in its bill, and it was only
after a series Of vain efforts that, by mere
chance, it at last accomplished its object, by
happening to seize il near one end instead
Of the centre. In this case it appeared to
the observer that the building instincts OF
this bird were complete and perfect within
certain range, but without the limits of
this circle it had no deliberative foresight to
guide its acuons.-British Quarterly.