Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/145

 7., FEB. 16. '56.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

137

"BIGHT" AND "LEFT HAND," AND "INSTINCT." (2 nd S. i. 84.)

He must be either a very learned, or a very bold man, who would venture to give a definition of instinct ; and, being neither the one nor the other, I decline the attempt. Nevertheless, I have much pleasure in answering MR. COLLYNS'S question, as far as my own opinion is concerned ; and in stating, that I believe instinct to be an irresistible impulse to the performance of certain actions : the wisdom and object of which are never the subjects of the performer's considera- tion; Nest-building is a sufficient example. It would seem to imply foreknowledge and the wis- dom of making provision for the future, and to require an amount of handicraft skill, together with the judicious choice of materials, shape, site, &c., which would be unattainable by man with- out long practice and experience. Yet to the bird, none of these things are necessary. The process is accomplished by a blind inspiration of what to do, and by a mysterious influence that compels it to be done. Perfect in its origin, how- ever, and Pope long ago told us, in defining between instinct and reason, that

" One must go right, the other may go wrong,"

it admits of neither choice nor variety, and in this respect is perfectly distinguished from what Dr. Alison admirably calls the " voluntary effort which results from a train of reasoning."

In what sense MR. COLLYNS'S friend uses the word mind, as applied to the instinct of animals, I am at a loss to conjecture. It is a ticklish ex- pression to use in these days, when Home Tooke's explanations are winning their way to the public ear. MR. COLLYNS calls the mind " a function of the brain." I cannot pursue that statement-either. What inspires the impulses of instinct is be- yond our mortal ken. The impulses may work through the mechanism or the structure (which- ever is the proper word) of the brain ; but, beyond all that human observation can reach, there re- mains still

" A higher height, a deeper deep."

" Deus anima brutorum" has been quoted by Dr. Alison, in his admirable paper on instinct, in the Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology ; and Pope declares

" In this 'tis God directs."

Assuredly, as Dr. Alison remarks, nest-building is the process of a reasoning mind ; and inasmuch as we deny the reasoning mind to the bird, we must grant it to Him who implanted the instinc- tive propensity in the unreasoning bird.

HERMES.

P.S. I am half anticipating, in these remark?, a little work, now in the press, by a friend of

mine, wherein an attempt is made to simplify this interesting subject. Its title is Worlds not Realised.

SONG Or THE REVOLUTION.

(l !t S. x. 423.)

The following, which is ohe of 1 the celebrated Protestant songs (so common to the present day among the Orange party in Ireland) to which the Revolution gave birth, is the song inquired for by your correspondent R. WARDE. F.

"POPISH TYRANNY.

"Tune: ricar of Bray. 1.

" When James, assuming right from God,

Eirslav'd this free-born nation, His sceptre was an iron rod,

His reign a visitation. High Churchmen cried ' Obey, obey !

Let none resist a crowned head ; He who gainsays what tyrants say, Is a rebellious Round-head.'

Then let us sing, while echoes ring,

The glorious Revolution 5 Your voices raise to William's praise, Who sav'd the Constitution.

2.

" The Bible was no longer read, But tales of sinners sainted ; The gods ador'd were gods of bread,

And sign-posts carv'd and painted. Their priests and monks, with cowls and ropes,

Arriv'd here without number ; With racks and daggers bless'd by Popes, And loads of holy lumber. Then let us sing, &c.

3.

" Our trade abroad, our wealth at home,

And all things worth desiring, Were sacrific'd to France and Rome,

While Britons lay expiring. The monarch, a Church-ridden ass,

Did whate'er priests suggested, And trotted day by day to mass, The slave of slaves detested. Then let us sing, &c.

4. " By cruel Popish politics,

Were Protestants affrighted, When, to convert poor heretics,

New Smithfield fires were lighted. But hope soon sprung out of despair,

So Providence commanded ; Our fears were all dispersed in air, When god-like William landed. Then let us sing, &c.

6. " Our Church and State shook off the yoke,

And lawless power was banish'd ; The snares of priestcraft too were broke, And superstition vanish'd,