300 ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE 



before the tongue should force the contents of the 

 mouth on towards the pharynx. 



Can we not, then, conclude that the forcing of accept- 

 able food and drink into the pharynx is not "instinctive," 

 but is the result of a series of satisfactory discoveries 

 of the young bird, which lead up to the placing of the 

 food where it will bring about the stimulation of the 

 reflex centre of the gullet, and the accomplishment of 

 the final act of swallowing ? a series which is intelli- 

 gently adopted by the bird, and improved by practice. 



It is perhaps well, before closing, to revert to the 

 peculiar habit of the bird in snapping at falling drops. 

 From the first, the attention was markedly attracted by 

 flying insects, and any small objects in motion seemed 

 to have a peculiar charm. From this fact I am inclined 

 to think that the seizing of drops was no more than the 

 striking at moving objects, though it is possible that 

 the adult habitually takes water on the wing by seizing 

 falling drops of dew or rain. 



