xix THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE FROG 353 



CHAPTER XIX 

 THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE FROG 



THE frog is admirably endowed by nature with a number 

 of instincts which enable it to cope successfully with most 

 of the situations that present themselves in the ordinary 

 course of its life. Its behavior is, to a great extent, stereo- 

 typed, the result of specific adaptive responses which are 

 dependent upon its inherited organization. Nevertheless it 

 shows at least the beginnings of intelligence. It is capable 

 of learning simple things and of guiding its conduct by the 

 light of its previous experience. By thus increasing the 

 range and delicacy of its responses it is able to perfect its 

 adjustment to its conditions of existence. 



Intelligence at its first appearence is very closely asso- 

 ciated with instinct and rises out of the latter by almost 

 insensible gradations. A step of fundamental importance 

 in its development is taken in the acquisition of the power 

 of forming associations between different experiences. 

 These associations may be at first of a very simple nature 

 and formed only after much repetition, but they mark the 

 important transition from instinctive to intelligent behavior. 



Abbott, who has devoted some attention to the intelli- 

 gence of batrachians, concludes that frogs are exceedingly 

 stupid. " Hoping," he says, " to find that in the pursuit of 

 prey, which is principally insects, frogs would display some 

 intelligence, I tried several experiments to test their inge- 

 nuity, but it was of no avail. Unless the food could be 

 easily reached by making the exertion of a single leap, the 

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