108 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



the reaction an incredulous smile. The particular 

 connections it strikes into are determined by our past 

 experiences and the association of the present im- 

 pression with them. The impression arouses its old 

 associates ; they go to meet it ; it is received by them, 

 and rearranged by the mind. It is the fate of every 

 impression thus to fall into a mind preoccupied with 

 memories, ideas, and interests. This mental escort 

 is drawn from the mind's ready-made stock. Our 

 philosopher adds : " In all apperceptive operations 

 of the mind a certain general law makes itself felt 

 the law of economy. In admitting a new experience 

 we instinctively seek to disturb as little as possible 

 the pre-existing stock of ideas." 



All this is illuminating and helpful, since it enables 

 me to see into my smiling reader's mind and to indulge 

 in a smile on my part. For with what in this case 

 will the object described (a white duck) connect itself ? 

 What are the memories, ideas, interests, already in 

 stock, which will be its associates and form its escort 

 and take it in ? They are of the duck as he has seen, 

 eaten, and known it all his life the familiar duck of 

 the farmyard, a heavy bird that waddles in its walk 

 and is seen dibbling in horse-ponds or in any mud- 

 puddle. It is the bird which the hen-wife fattens for 

 the market while her husband is fattening the pigs. 

 If any pleasing memories or associations connect them- 

 selves with it they are not of an aesthetic character : 

 they refer to the duck without its feathers, to its smell 

 and taste when eaten with green peas in their season. 



