ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 207 



of reflex-like actions, dependent on hereditary neuro-mus- 

 cular prearrangements. Subjectively, however, it shows 

 " conative impulse, unity and continuity of attention, per- 

 severance with adaptive variation of behaviour correspond- 

 ing to felt success or failure, and, in many cases, the evi- 

 dence of having learned by experience ". " The congenital 

 prearrangements of the neuro-muscular mechanism for spe- 

 cial modes of behaviour do not of themselves suffice to ex- 

 plain the animal's conduct. Their biological utility depends 

 from the outset on their operation being sustained, controlled, 

 and guided by intelligent interest in the pursuit of ends." 

 It seems to us that this view fits the blended instincts of 

 birds much better than the pure instincts of bees. 



According to Prof. 0. S. Myers there is but one psychologi- 

 cal function instinct-intelligence. " In what is ordinarily 

 called instinctive behaviour the innate mechanism is rela- 

 tively fixed and given ; in what is ordinarily called intelli- 

 gent behaviour the mechanism is relatively plastic and ac- 

 quired. But I maintain that such differences are only rela- 

 tive and that no mental state (or process) can be spoken 

 of as solely instinctive or as solely intelligent." 



(C) A third view, particularly associated with Professor 

 Bergson, regards instinctive behaviour and intelligent be- 

 haviour as two quite different kinds of efficiency, implying 

 different kinds of knowing. 



If we define intelligent behaviour as that which involves 

 objectively some trial-and-error experimenting and profiting 

 thereby, and subjectively some perceptual inference, we may 

 say that instinctive behaviour differs in being non-experi- 

 mental (though it may improve as the result of experience) 

 and non-inferential (though not necessarily destitute of 

 awareness). It is the impression of many observers that 



