DISCUSSIONS ON INSTINCT 285 



Now, if we consider the attempt to pick up, from 

 observation I conclude that it was by instinct ; but if 

 we consider the picking-up, I conclude that it was an 

 acquired characteristic. 



In conclusion, I might say that at the end of the 

 3rd day all of the chicks about fifty instinctively 

 attempted to pick up, and that at the end of the 5th 

 day they were able to pick up and place the food or 

 water so that it could be swallowed. 



J. C. HARTZELL, JR. 



ORANGEBURG, S.C., 25th March 1896. 



To THE EDITOR OF Science. Prof. Lucas seems to me 

 to have advanced this discussion on " Instinct " by his 

 reference to a letter in Nature, which appeared in vol. 

 lii. p. 30. According to the writer, it is customary 

 for the Asamese natives to " teach " the young Jungle 

 Fowls to peck. 



If this be true, what then becomes of Prof. Morgan's 

 distinction ? 



As a matter of fact, if one observes a good many 

 chicks, he will find that a large proportion of the birds 

 never peck without suggestion (the term " teach " seems 

 objectionable) from the hen or some substitute. The 

 chief value of such facts grows out of their showing 

 that instincts are never perfect, and never of that type 

 once believed in the unalterable, inevitable, and un- 

 varying like the rising and setting of the sun; and 

 for such rigid notions the reports of some scientists 

 are in part responsible. It sometimes happened that 

 experimenters in biology, etc., omit the exceptions and 

 report only " good experiments," so that a false view of 

 the case must necessarily arise. Prof. Baldwin seems 

 to adopt Prof. Morgan's views, for lie refers to the 



