The
great distinction between man and the inferior animals is, that the
one learns almost every art progressively, by his own experience
operating with the accumulated knowledge of past generations, whilst
the others work by a fixed rule, improving very little, if any, during
the course of their own lives, and rarely deviating to-day from the
plans pursued by the same species a thousand years ago. It is true
that the swallow, which doubtless once built its nest in hollow trees,
has now accommodated itself to the progress of human society by
choosing chimneys for nestling; and it is also to be noticed, that in
the selection of materials a great many birds, as we have already
shown, accommodate themselves to their individual opportunities of
procuring substances differing in some degree from those used in other
situations by the same species. These adaptations only show that the
instinct which guides them to the construction of the nests best
fitted to their habits is not a blind one; that it is very nearly
allied to the reasoning faculty, if it is not identified with it. But
that the rule by which birds conduct their architectural labours is
exceedingly limited must be evident, from the consideration that no
species whatever is in a state of progression from a rude to a
polished style of construction. There is nearly as much difference
between the comparative beauty of the nests of a wood-pigeon and a
bottle-tit, as between the hut of a North American savage and a
Grecian temple.
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