Literary Notices. 213 



of motor habits, llefo, and in the succeeding chai)tor on the "memory idea" 

 (pp. 270-284), the author reports that an examination of the learning process 

 in animals fails to discover any conclusive evidence for the presence of 

 "ideas" (excepting perhaps in the case of monkeys). "The behavior of the 

 lower forms of animal life, at least, can be fully explained without supposing 

 that the animals concerned ever consciously recall the effects of a previously 

 experienced stimulus in the entire absence of the stimulus itself." The 

 closing chapter (pp. 285-294) deals with the biological significance of attention. 



Professor Washburn's book is the pioneer in its field. It will unquestionably 

 prove to be a time-saver to the student of animal behavior, and will be a 

 welcome adjunct to the work oi the class-room. Many of its discussions are 

 carried through with a thoroughness and an insight which render them of 

 [laramount value. This is particularly true of the learning process. The treat- 

 ment of spatially determined reactions and spatial perception and of tropisms 

 is, however, in the opinion of the reviewer, too vague and too inconclusive 

 to be of value to the student. 



It is suggested that future editions could be improved by the addition of a 

 more inclusive index. To cite but a few omissions, such important topics 

 as memory, mental image, and experience are not mentioned in the author's 

 index. The bibliography might be extended to include Wundt (writings since 

 1892), Sanford, Brehni, .Jourdan, and Ribot, and a complete list of the work 

 done in this field by Darwin, Mcjebius, Wasmann and Watson. 



J. W. Baied. 



University of Illinois. 



