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Xiitniutt.
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Xiitniutt.
Xiitniutt .
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Natural History gains some attention this month in Fraser and Tait . In the Mullets and Mullomaniacs of Fraser will be recognised the erudite gossip and gusto of an admired contributor ; in the Day with a Lion , of Tait , we have a very exciting narrative of a lion keeping watch over a man all day long , waiting till hunger should prompt him to spring . It may be worth while to rectify a common error apropos to this anecdote . That the Lion will not mangle his prisoner , so long as the prisoner remains motionless , is « ii i , „ . „„ , ! ^ nvmiio ava + Vit > nnpr » rlrvfps nf tTifin eseamne" bv mean s of —¦
% TT CslI , J \ . 11 U V * y UIU . T C ** . *\ S % * -k * **» . * -v *~* v »~— --w ~ - ~ - X CJ this knowledge . When a movement is made , the Lion strikes or crunches with his teeth , just as the kitten strikes when the ball suspended to a string is moved , but ceases after awhile to touch it , if left at rest . It is a simple case of reflex action , and the writer of the article we are noticing is interpreting facts by human motives , in supposing that every movement made to reload the gun was rightly interpreted by the Lion . The Lion knew nothing of reloading ; but he was excited by the movements , and a handkerchief shaken would have roused the same feelings in him .
Besides the paper on Mullets , there is in Fraser an eloquent , ingenious and suggestive mooting of some Ethical Doubts concerning Reineke Fucks , which may be called an Essay on the causes of our sympathy with successful scoundrelism . Why , indeed , do we disregard the plainest writing of our Moral Code , and suffer sympathy with clever scampishnes ' s to overrule the direct reprobation of conscience ? Why do we love Falstaff , and try in vain to think ill of Reynard the Fox ? The writer of this admirable Essay will have it that in the successful scamp we admire the success , and forgive the scampishness for the sake of the vital force which lies behind it and makes it successful :- --" Now , on the human stage , a man who has made himself valuable is certain to be valued . However we may pretend to estimate men according to the wrong things which they have done , or abstained from doing , we in fact follow the example of Nobel , the king of the beasts , and give them their places among us according to the serviceableness and capability which they display . We might mention not a few eminent public servants , who the world delights to honour—ministers , statesmen , lawyers , men of science , artists , poets , soldiers , who , 11 tliey wuru trlo < l by the negative test , would show but a poor figure ; . yet tbeir value is too real to be dispensed with ; and we tolerate unquestionable wrong to sccuto the services of eminent ability . The world really does , and it always has really done so from the beginning of the human history ; and it is only indolence or cowardice which has
left our ethical teaching halting so far behind the universal and necessary practice . Even questionable prima donnas , in virtue of their sweet voices , have their praises hymned in drawing-room and newspaper , and applause rolls over them , and gold and bouquets shower on them from lips and hands which , except for those said voices , woultl treat them to a ruder reward . In real fact , we take our places in this world not according to what we are not , but according to what we are . His Holiness Pope Clement , when his audience-room rang with furious outcries for justice on Benvenuto Cellini , who , as far as half-a-dozen murders could forma title , was as fair n candidate for the gallows as ever swung from that unlucky wood , replied , ' All this is very well , gentlemen : these murders are bad things , we know that . But where am I to get another Uenvenuto , if you hang this one for me ? ' '>
Undeniable . There is something more , however . There is , firstly , a delightful emancipation of the spectator from any personal interest in the proceedings ' ; his intellect is free to admire , it is uncloggcd by any cguisin . The scoundrelism docs not affect him ; the cleverness appeals to his sympathy . 'Fidstall" owes him no money ; Reynard docs not befool him ; so that bis intellect is clear , and appreciates with great gusto . The wronged man hates the clever scamp , but the spectator ( unless bis personal sympathies be involved , and we arc now considering him purely as a spectator ) not being irritated , is able to admire . In this " personal emancipation" here hinted at , lies , we believe , the secret of most of our imaginative pleasures . The terrible becomes the
sublime if accompanied by n sense of security . The pathos of a tragedy is exquisite pleasure to a spectator , accompanied as it is by a sense of its nof ; really agonising the actors . There in n second source of sympathy with the Disreputables , which lies in our iniperfectly civilized condition . We are savages , with u thin veneer of order nml propriety . The old wild instinct is in our hearts , and much as we may preach Order , Rule , and " Respectability on Long-acre springs , " the to irnncov is secretly despised . As children , we hate the " good boys " of storv books , and delight privately in Don't ( We ; for , us a subtle author
well says in reference to the end Don't Cure came to , " at any rate he came to Home end , whereas most people come to none . " lie nhowed vitality , free , unconstrained , independent volition , that Don t Cure ! This presence of vital force would have made Jckkhky a greater and » . estimable man , according to the critic ... lilackwood , who traces Uout Jei'I'iucy'b life a want of ea rnestness , which was , indeed , the
TrpwTOv ypevBog , or fundamental deficiency of his nature . The critic pointing out this dilettante nimbleness , and want of direct purpose , sa " What we naturally ask ourselves had a mind of this temper and cast of th T to do with the movement party in the state P Its place was in the ranks of f and even timid Conservatism . But , in truth , all that Jeffrey had willinRiv tnd with these great subjects was to talk of them ; to talk much and wellwasfV bnsiness of his life ; he would never willingly have acted , or proceeded from dis course to real measure . " The back-handed blow given to safe Conservatis m in this passa ° noticeable coming from BlacJcwood . °
Christopher is again Under Canvas this month , as eloquent as ever We will not dismiss the magazines of this month without a word in nra } S g of the charming periodical for children , The Charm , which is more eagerly looked for by several youngsters we know than Bleak House is by their parents .
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INSTINCT OF ANIMALS . Illustrations of Instinct deduced from the Habits of British AnimaU . By Jonatha n G-ouch . P . L . S . Van Voorst Comparative Anatomy is quite a modern Science ; and yet , in spite of its infancy , all philosophers are sensible of its' excessive importance in the construction of a true science of Biology . A necessary consequence of this study of comparative anatomy with a view to Biology , will be the study of Comparative Psychology , with a view to the clearer appreciation of our psychial condition ; but as yet this new inquiry has only been pursued in a fitful and , so to speak , unconscious mood , owing mainly to the ancient prejudice against recognising anything like intelligence in the brute creation . Brutes have instinct—men have mind : that is the current doctrine ; which , deeply considered , is about as true as to say , brutes have four legs —men have legs and arms . For the arm is not more demonstrable the homologue of a leg , more varied in its function , owing to the varied modification of its construction , than Intelligence is an advance upon Instinct , owing to the greater development of its organ . Comparative anatomy shows us that all the innumerable varieties of vertebrate structure are but modifications of one type ; and comparative Psychology will show that all the innumerable mental varieties are owing to the various modifications of one type—the nervous system . Instinct is not essentially different from Mind ; it is only the simpler function of a simpler organ . As we
formerly said : " The earlier forms of mental manifestation are named Instinct ; the more complicated forms , Intelligence ; but as the nervous system is specifically nervous whatever may be the amount of concentration in its central masses , so Mind is specifically Mind whatever the intensity or variety of its manifestations . Man shares with the Brute a twofold life—vegetative and animal : he also shares with the brute a twofold mental life—instinctive and rational . In ascending the scale of creation we see animal life gradually encroaching on the supremacy of vegetative life ; and in like manner we see reason gaining predominance over instinct . " . .
Mr . Gouch , in the volume before us , has luminously stated the initial conditions of all inquiry into animal instinct , although he has not steadfastly adlierud to liis own principles : — " To acquire an accurate idea of the intrinsic nature of the faculty termed Instinct , it will l > e requisite , first , to notice the conditions of living existence below it in the scale of nature ; in order that , by tracing the successive manifestations of the increasing faculties , we may understand the precise station which this faculty occupies in the ascending scale , and the means through which its operations arc developed . We shall thus he taught that it is not so much an insulated faculty , of which the tissues and organs arc no more than instruments—as an accumulation of powers combined together , and occupying a step in the course of a transition from the lowest to a higher condition of natural rank ; so that its variation or degree is due to the modification of these inferior powers which together form Jt 9
constituent parts . Had he resolutely followed out the p lan here traced ho woultl have made a contribution to science of the highest value . But his conception of Mind as an essence supcradded to the brain—a spirit peculiar to man —vitiates this portion of the inquiry , and is probably the cause ot Jus work being ho fragmentary as it is . Wo cannot here enter upon n > question of the " spirituality" of Mind ; but must be permitted to expres our surprise aL finding him unaware of the tendency of his own upcc liitionn . . , In noting how Mr . Couch ' s volume falls short of its own Htandft ™ . let us not forget to add , on the other hand , that it is novertheleHH a i inarkable and suggestive work , crowded with facts and anecdote's micros ' ^ ing to the lover of natural history , and containing p hilosophic ajx-i ^
which the psychologist will turn to good use . See how he illustrates re-ilex action in the following examples : ¦ "It is probable that this compulsory state of the ; process of swallowing ' « ^ natural condition of the orifice of some animals ; the approach of food to ' "ri j ^ , turo being the mere result of accident , hi them also it may not be nl ) (! . , j o ( consciousness : for , even in the human body , the muscular structure <>> tin ) l ^ the eye , moved as it is by the ; impression of light , performs its actions wit |() l < () ji being ; , t all sensible of them . Tim closing of its ahell in the Oyster , on U «« r r ^ ' m *^ ¦<«; «*¦¦ tii' « ini > , / i \< \ r * Ull \ 111 . M . A »\ \ H /< 7 1 I 111 VI * Ull h »»* j »* . »» " ,.-. _ - ^ I I 111 H nstance
tact of some object * , and its opening on the ( low of the tide , are i * ' ^ . ^ property ; and regarded in this point , of view , they display wonderful udup ' ^ ^ of structure ) to tho wants und circums | anees of the creature , itself un (!<> l . ' ° *¦ HWlllwanl , or , if felt , how to supply it . Hut , recurring to the automatic ac . tl () U , ( | j ( , | i , o lowing , which hits been already mentioned , perhaps there i » no one »» v » || nl > lo dependence of each motion on its predecessor is so distinctly visible am "' ' ^ ^ as this—in which none can be exerted , except by beginning with the "h ' ^ r ( Jk ) the chain . A craving for agreeable food is the exciting cause of the jno ' " . ^ j „ , month and jitwH .- but however agreeable to the palate , this food iri u <) . '' f | ir »»' the month to obtain the only enjoyment it is capable of ullording ; 1 > U < j ^ , ; »» - over the hinder part of the tongue , it . is conveyed into the stomach by ^ i | ,, jlt luntary muscular contractions of successive portions of the aajophag ' () ^ m And it is interesting to observe in some animals tho interposition of ccrtau
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Just as the British Parent is making elaborate arrangements for a Continental Tiip with his whole family , having in view economy and a " polish " of elegance , Lever brings out the first number of his new serial , The Dodd Family Abroad . It starts capitally . The machinery is good , though old enough : a family of various " types" writing severally of their experiences . The humour is of the sly Milesian kind , some of it excellent ; while the great variety in the characters prevents tedium .
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Critics are not the legislators , but the judges and police of literature . They ao not make laws—they interpret and try to enforce them . —Edinburgh Review .
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854 THE LEADER . CSattjrday
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 4, 1852, page 854, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1950/page/18/
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