DISCUSSIONS ON INSTINCT 295 



during this act was in rapid motion.) While making 

 an unusually awkward lunge at the edge of the dish the 

 bill was accidentally thrust deep into the water, and 

 quickly withdrawn with an unmistakable air of surprise, 

 followed by an effort to eat the water held between the 

 mandibles. The jaws snapped, the tongue could be 

 seen shooting back and forth, and the head, first held 

 horizontally, was only slowly tipped backward, and then 

 not in the way of the chick, described as instinctively 

 perfect, but after the retching method of mouthing and 

 swallowing any object not readily responsive to the con- 

 tractions of deglutition, and which must needs have the 

 added assistance of the attraction of gravitation. 



Though the porcelain dish was afterwards repeatedly 

 offered from llth to the 16th July, and invariably 

 evoked notes of approval, the bird, in securing the liquid, 

 always bit the edge, and never once dipped the beak 

 beneath the surface, nor drank in the approved method 

 of the chick. The earlier awkward movements, however, 

 were greatly improved through repetition. The sub- 

 stance of the water seemed never to be visually observed, 

 and the empty dish held in the hand evoked the same 

 clamorous approval as when filled with water, and was 

 later recognised, even when accidentally met, though a 

 saucer which had not contained food or water evoked 

 no sign of interest. 



On the morning of 12th July, it was noted that if 

 water was allowed to fall from a height, the bird became 

 greatly agitated, opened its mouth, and vigorously struck 

 at the descending drops, and several were swallowed 

 with evident signs of relish. Up to this time, while in 

 my possession, the animal had taken food only when 

 placed by the fingers in the gaping mouth, and had 

 made no effort to pick, selectively, the food from be- 

 tween the fingers, nor had it even changed its position 



