On the Different Forms of Acquiring Knowledge. 167 



ment, and we must naturally find these misapplications 

 very ludicrous. The facts we allude to must be ex- 

 plained by the sensile poiver of cognition of the animal, 

 and by the formation of new combinations of repre- 

 sentations in its sensile memory; whilst the seemingly 

 intelligent order of these associations results from the 

 intelligence of man who trains the bird to speak. But 

 the pretended jokes which parrots are said to have in- 

 vented, are the merest fairy tales. An enthusiast or a 

 sentimental lover of animals may perhaps take pleasure 

 in them, but they are of no value to an earnest natu- 

 ralist. 



But it is time to sum up the results of this dis- 

 cussion. 



In view of true biological facts, the following forms 

 of learning have to be distinguished : 



I. SELF-DEPENDENT LEARNING. 



1. Through instinctive practice of innate reflex 

 mechanisms, which is released by the muscular sensa- 

 tions of the subject. 



2. By sense experiences, in virtue of which neiv 

 combinations of representations and impulses are 

 formed without the aid of intervening reflection 

 (sensile memory}. 



j. By sense experiences and the intelligent infer- 

 ence of new conditions from those which formerly ex- 

 isted (sensile memory and genuine intelligence). 



II. LEARNING BY FOREIGN INFLUENCE. 



4. By the stimulation of the instinct of imitation 

 which is brought about by the examples of others. 



