Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-02-25
INSTINCT IN ANIMALS.

Tho Influence winch urges BIRDS TO
Change Their Home with tho Seasons.
TO tho older philosophers instinct was
far more wonderful thing than it ap.
pears now. They asserted that all tho
actions Of the lower animals were per
formed through instinct, and explained
that they possessed this faculty in lieu
Of intelligence, which was tho peculiar
attribute Of man. This was, however,
soon exploded by tho demonstration Of
the possession Of intelligence among
animals and Of instinct by man. In
deed the later philosophers have come TO
believe that almost all tho actions Of
man are Influenced If not controlled by
instinct alone.
The tendency to migration Of certain
species Of animals is plainly referable to
this hereditary influence. Originally
no doubt, migration occurred because
food was more easily found in one lo
cality than in another. The hereditary
memory, so TO speak, pointed out the
place wherS more food was to be OBJ
tanned with less exertion. Gradually
other surroundings suggested themselves
as agreeable TO the embryo mind, and
and these, repeated through many gen
erations, created that unthiui,ing tend
ENJOY toward a particular pace or eli
mate regardless Of its original fitness.
Almost all our ideas are gained from
association, and it il fair TO imagine that
the constant and repeated association OF
a particular locality, with a pleasurable
sensation-the satiation Of hunger, for
example-would soon identify the SEN
sation with the place. Then would be
evolved the sentiment Of home, senti-
ment which We feel only more keenly
| than the lower animals because 1t Is as
sociated not only with the place where
there is something 10 eat, but because
Of other pleasurable sensations associated
with it, as they are as constantly found
In the same locality.
IL is a mistake 10 regard the migratory
| instincts Of animals as unerring. Every
woodsman has observed how particu-
lar species Of bird will apparently desert
q certain locality for another for one OF
more seasons. Occasionally this may
result from choice, but IL seems alto
gether more probable that it Is from
some mistake On the part Of the birds
themselves. Their generally accurate
course has been DETECTED by some cir
cumstance, and they have made their
! homes elsewhere. In the case OF strag
glers this is particularly marked. They
body TO which they originally belonged
and are forced TO DC content with what
ever suitable place may be found.
Migratory animals and birds are al
most always gregarious-that II, they
live and especially they travel in com
pact fiocks or herds. They do this fol
one reason only-that the wisdom Of {
number is greater than that Of any one
Any error in the route would be detected
by one or another and thence communi
Gated to the whole flock. Once in /
while they are all mistaken, and Thea
some incoming steamer serves az "A pOin
Of rest Tor the tired little wings, or Som
hitherto unknown country becomes tn
new htIne Of tho home seekers.
But there is much that is very won
derful and awe inspiring in the instinc
that guides them. If indeed IL is merel.
the rGfex Of the memory Of long dc
parted ancestOrs-if the thoughts a
well az the sins If the father descend L
remote generations, what tendencie
and ordinations are we transmitting b
our children which may in later genera
tions develop 10 good or evilY Are w
steering "A straight course, like the oil,
gray goosei-BaltDaOre Sun.