INHERITANCE AND ACQUISITION 171 



fed at the back door, and rather despises my little 

 bits of bacon : it is real affection on her part. 



February 2, 1893. 



How amorous the birds are becoming already ! 

 I was amused with Tapping Tom just now. After 

 tapping most importunately (as he does when his 

 lady is there too) for food, when I put it out, in- 

 stead of taking a bit or feeding, he settled on the 

 near branch of the rose-tree, and, turning his back 

 to me, began a quite peculiar little cry, looking 

 about in the meantime for his lady, who appeared 

 to have given him the slip. How the little head 

 did tw r ist and turn, to be sure ! All at once, down 

 he came on the plate (heard her, no doubt) ; but 

 not to eat ; off he went with a bit for her in his 

 beak. M. says she often sees them feeding their 

 ladies on her lawn now. 



Where, O where can the line be drawn 

 between the inherited and the acquired ? Here, 

 for instance, is this blue tit, ' Tapping Torn.' He 

 has inherited the knowledge that a certain call 

 brings that which he wants in the shape of a 

 mate ; he has also acquired the knowledge by 

 experience that tapping at the window brings me 

 and food. The first piece of knowledge will pass 

 on to his progeny ; the second will not do so, I 

 suppose ; but where can the line be drawn between 

 the two kinds or bits of knowledge '? Only the 



