Weekly Trinity journal., 1862-03-29
DO They Think Z
INSTINCT VERSUS REASON.


Z Often, in our younger days, we have unused
ever the subtle theories of Philosophers aud Nat
kraljsts in drawing the nice distractions between
reason and instinct Naturalists, it will be re-
even claim that certain plants have
"a degree of animal life and species of Instinct,
and refer you, in proof, to the Sensitive Plant
and others of like nature, which shrink and close
their petals at the slightest touch. We are not
an nldel and are fully convicted that a Great
Supreme Power has endowed man with distin-
gushing quality above all of his animal race
Philosophers call it Reason. Yet it seems to us
very closely allied to what is denominatcd in
stinct in animals and the intelligence frequently
exhibited in the exercise of this instinct by GER
tain animals, would really puzzle the brain of
Locke, if he denied the presence of the faculty
of reasoning We are led to these reflections by
noticing that the last five or six days oil warm,
sunshiny spring weather has entced many plo'
neer little wood lizards out of their winter homes,
to bask again in the grateful sunshine, and pounce
upon unwary flies and bugs.
Several years ago, when mining, and when 9th
er camp mates had gone, and the cabin SILENT we
were slightly startled by whiz along the rough
bark on one of the pine logs of which the cabin
was built. Looking up to see the cause, we final
" discovered one of the little brown animals
commonly called house lizards, making sundry
mods and shrugs with his head and shoulders, ve-
~ much after the style of a Frenchman [by the
way, we always call these little fellows French
nenl illustrating a "point." Being idle, we
watched our little Frenchman for some time : he
would raise himself upon his fore legs stretch
ais neck out, then cock his head to one side, and
earnestly look at something seemingly very near
him. again fatten himself as close to the bark as
II he grew there then raise bis shoulders, stretch
lis neck and peer at the same object with the
olhtr eye. lie went through these antics several
times and we became interested, wondering what
ke deuce he saw. He finally tlattened himself
A.-,s-F,esfccvIty- -vitttt aud Tlotionese in II mo
4, Vssfght In front of his nose, we discovered
yellow Jacket backing ont of little hole, bearing
10 his mouth a worm quite as large as himself
(Thcse worms are known by the name OF "bor-
ers, from the noise they make when boring their
holes in the cabin logsD No sooner had the yel
low Jacket got his prey cleverly out of the hole
Than Frenchy grabbed the worm "quickcr nor
creased lightnin'." The queer manonvers of the
lizard were explained : he knew the worm was in
the hole, but it was impossible for him to reach
1.-THE further knew that the yellow-Jacke went
in to bring it out, 81 he very sensibly blded his
time and seized his prey at the very moment
when the yellow, jacket had secured his victim
The same feat was several times repeated by our
little Frcnchman.
Telling this anccdote in presence OF some gen
tlemen the other day, Mr.. Vim. Kellogg, of West
Weaver, related another incident illustrative of
how closely allied to is instinct even in in
sects: Sitting idly with another gentleman on
q log, one summer day, their attention was di'
rected to troop of ants, busily engaged drag
eing a large worm towards their nest. They
succeeded in moving it several yards, and finally
came to an elevation over which in direct line
they attempted several times to drag the worm,
but without success. He states that upon every
failure they would dspcrsc, running of in diiler-
ent directions but would in few minutes all re.
turn and make another attempt and another fail
nre. After while they observed solitary ant
come, seemingly in hot haste, around the little
elevation he made, at first, great fuss and stir,
running round among the other ants, then sud
denly breaking off from them he siezed one end
of the worm, and commenced tugging to pull it
10 different direction. lie was soon Joined by
others of the troop, and the worm was success
fully dragged around the mimic mountain, and
ssafely housed in the ants larder. How reason
like the instinct which taught the intelligent lit
tie ant that il was easier to go around the base OF
hill than over its summit Who may say,
knowingly, that this ant aud our little "French-
man" did not THINK?
] In.