1899] MR. RUTGERS MARSHALL ON LNSTLNCT 239 



in consequence of their biological value to the members of a social community. 

 There is much that is interesting in his new book ; but many of the positions 

 occupied require more weight of fact and more cogency of argument to render 

 them tenable. 



Instinct, as defined by Mr. Marshall, includes not only reflex action but, it 

 seems, cellular response to stimulus. For we are told that all instincts, whether 

 simple or complex, fall under one category, and appear as modes of that simplest 

 of all forms of activity, the reaction of a living cell to the stimulus received 

 from the environment. On the other hand, instinct is taken to include all that 

 is the outcome of innate tendencies. Not only are the ethical, artistic, and 

 religious " instincts " comprised within the definition, but reason itself. At any 

 rate, the "important conclusion " is emphasised that "all of reasoned action 

 must be referred back to instinct action." On these principles it is difficult to 

 see what types of organic action, animal or vegetable, must not be referred to 

 instinct. It is questionable whether a technical term of such wide meaning has 

 any definite value. 



' The term "impulse" is applied to "mental phases which, when we take an 

 objective view, we find to be determined by the inhibition of instinct actions." 

 But the word " obstruction " is sometimes used as the equivalent of inhibition. 

 The former word has a much wider meaning than inhibition used as a technical 

 term. It is not clear whether Mr. Marshall's contention is that impulse is 

 always determined by the inhibitory influence of higher on lower nerve centres, 

 or something else. 



If we accept the extravagantly broad definition of instinct as comprising 

 rational action, it is clear that the distinction between hereditary and acquired 

 modes of procedure is a superficial one. Mr. Marshall does, however, take it to 

 some extent into consideration. But he seems too readily to accept as hereditary 

 much that may be handed on by tradition. 



The last criticism for which we have space is this. It satisfies Mr. Marshall 

 to assume, that if this or that mode of activity is of what he terms biological 

 value to the race, it has been or is being engrained through heredity. Whether 

 he accepts the inheritance of acquired characters is not clear ; but he lays some 

 stress on the distinctively Darwinian factor in evolution. He nowhere, however, 

 adequately sets forth the steps of the process by which those who fail to possess, 

 say, the religious " instinct " are eliminated. C. LI. M. 



'O" 



BRITISH PARK CATTLE. 



White Cattle : an Enquiry into their Origin and History. By R. H. 

 Wallace. Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc, Glasgow, (2) vol. v. pp. 220-273, 

 illustrated. 



If the object of this communication were simply to demonstrate that 

 British Park White Cattle are not the direct survivors of the wild aurochs 

 or ox (not the bison), Mr. Wallace might have saved himself the trouble of 

 writing it, since all competent to give an opinion are agreed on this point. But 

 his main contention seems to be to demonstrate their descent from a white breed 

 imported by the Romans. In this view he follows the steps of Professor 

 M'Kenny Hughes ; and it is far from our intention to endeavour to demonstrate 

 either that he is right or wrong, for the sufficient reason that, in our opinion, 

 the evidence is inadequate. All that we propose in the way of criticism is to 

 call attention to what appears to us a misapprehension. 



In his summary the author states that the cattle common in Britain was 

 the Celtic shorthorn, the so-called Bos longifrons. This animal is stated to have 

 been small and dark coloured. At the time in question the aurochs (Bos primi- 

 genius) had become exterminated in Britain ; while the Celtic shorthorn was 

 domesticated. The Romans had a special breed of white cattle for sacrificial 

 purposes ; and such cattle were brought into Britain. It is from these cattle 



