Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-18
INSTINCT IN ANIMALS.
Tho Influence which Urges Birds

Tho Influence which Urges Birds to
Change Their Home with the Seasons.
To the older philosophers instinct was
far more wonderful thing than it ap-
pears now. They asserted that all the
actions of the lower animals were per-
formed through instinct, and explained
that they possessed this faculty in lieu
of intelligence, which was the peculiar
attribute of man. This was, however,
soon exploded by the 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 the actions Of
man are inhuepced il 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 To-
cality than in another. The hereditary
memory, 30 to speak, pointed out the
place where 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 gem
erations, created that minimizing tend
ency toward particular pa1e or Gil
mate regardless Of its original fitness.
Almost all our ideas are gained from
association, and it is fair to imagine that
the constant and repeated association OF
particular locality, with 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, sentl-
ment which we feel only more keenly
| than the lower animals because 1t Is as
| ISOLATED not only with the place where
| there is something TO eat, but because
of other pleasurable sensations associated
with it, as they are as constantly found
| in the same locality.
1t is a mistake TO regard the migratory
instincts Of animals as unerring. Every
woodsman has observed how particu-
lar species of bird will apparently desert
a certain locality for another for one or
more seasons. Occasionally this may
result from choice, but it 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
rarely succeed in rejoining the main
body to which they originally belonged
and are forced to be content with what
ever suitable place may DO found.
Migratory animals and birds are al
most always gregarious-that is, they
live and especially they travel in com
pact flocks or herds. They do this fol
one reason only-that the wisdom of 1
number il 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 thel
some incoming steamer serves as poin
Of rest for the tired little wings, OF SOM
hitherto unknown country becomes tn
new home Of the home seekers.
But there is much that is very won
derful and awe inspiring in the instinc
that guides them. If indeed it is merel.
the reflex of the memory Of long de
parted ancestors-if the thoughts a
; we'll as the sins of the father descend Z
remote generations, what tendencie
} and inclinations are we transmitting b
: our children which may in later genera
tons develop 10 good or evil? Are W
: steering straight course, like the oil
gray Baltimore Sun.