, 1873-11-02
SURVIVAL OF INSTINCTS.

The last number Of tho Popular Science
Monthly contains an article on tho survival OF
instincts, which details Botno cruel and appa-
rontly abnormal habits among domestic animals,
and traces them to carly developments Of necos-
sty. by repetition they 1nve acquired tho forcs
Of instinct. For Instance, gentleman living
near Brooklyn recently tothored a turkey in
tho fold with rope for tho better protection
Of her young brood. Ono day the turkey became
ontanglea in the cord and fell holploss upon the
ground. The other turkeys In the eatne field,
with whom tlero had boon conBtant and friend
~ aRBoclation heretofore. Immediately toll upon
their aisabled companion, and commenced pick.
ing ut her lead and eyes, evidently with the pur-
pose Of killing her. This occurrence led to in
quiry, which e1ioited the fact that such conduct
waa not unusua} among otherwise We1l.behAyed
turkeys whenever ono Of the flock became diB-
abled and an eaBy victim to itB companions. The
sauo disposition, under similar oirou1nstauces
has been found among other domesticatea
animals, ,-cattle, swine, and dogs. Drovors OF
long experience teatify that, when herds OF cut
tie arc rapidly driven, and one falls to the
ground or exhibits BignB Of woakness, It Is not
uncommon for tho roat Of the herd to net upon
it and gore it to doath. 4 Long Island gontlc-
man reports case in which tlis occurred in a
field whero cattle wore peacefully graziug, and
another that observation hhs convinced him thnt
a cry Of distroas is always signal tor attack on
tho part Of tho strong, Instead OF M invita-
tlon for sympathy. The sumo propensity
has been observed among swine. In driving,
in tho pens, md especially in crowded cars, tho
weak arc attacked by tho strong, and in some
cases deyoured as veil as killed. On ono occa-
sion. after hog had been slaughtered and
oaten, other meat was thrown to tho surviyors
to teBt whether hunger had tempted them to
this troaohery, but II WAS not touched. This
acems to Indicate that thelr cruelty vas
prompted by some other Instinct.
This propensity among dumb animals, uni
formly developed under certain conditions, is
reasonably attributed TO survival Of certain ill.,
atincta from former wild condition, when
such actions wore rendered necessary OR advsa-
bic as means Of seli-presoryation. This Wow
IL confirmed by the fact that similar disposition
han boon notod among wild aninsala. Onyier aays
of tho whito zrus: "Wlon one Of tho breed
happens to be wounded, or s onfooblel by ago
or sickness. tho othora sot upon 1t aud
goro it to DEATH" Audubon ~~roports that
1t is common among the wild turkey on their
n1arouoa for t1,e old males to destroy tue
Immature, though tho full-grown and vigorous
birds aro not attacked. The American bison
dossrt tho old, Bok, and disabled for tho wolvos
to feed On. Wounded iwolyea arc killed by their
comrades. An instance is cited In which one Of
number Of porpoises following vessel was
wounded by polo hurled at 1t from the slip,
when tho others turnad on It Immediately. Tho
notification OF this habit z1nong so many differ
ont spccios giyoB 1t the character Of Instinct,
which waa originally developed by tho law
Of solf-prosorvatlon. II became necessary
at tinos to drive bohind or destroy
tho feoble In orilor to protect the ma~
jority whom animals were threatened or
pursued by stronger animals Or by mon, sntl this
disposition has boen porposaatod and ntrongth.
oned by transmission from generation to gonera~
tion.
Darwinists find some aupport.for their hypotl-
Gals Of q common origin OF spocoH in traces Of
like disposition among men. AIr. Dur
win himself mentions :, tho practice cons
mon among North American Indiana Of
,lesylpg thel1 teloW4comskdes TO- perish on