THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ANIMAL PLAY. 291 



aspires still higher, and attacks other animals in playful 

 chase and mock combats; the fleeing animal will play- 

 fully escape from his pursuer. In the other forms of 

 play — building, nursing, and curiosity — the impulses of 

 ownership and subjugation manifest themselves in vari- 

 ous ways. Imitative play is full of rivalry, and it is a 

 powerful motive in courtship. It is a satisfaction that 

 can not be attained without effort, and is increased in 

 proportion to the difficulty of overcoming opposition, 

 without which there would be no consciousness of 

 strength. This is just as true in simple muscular co- 

 ordination as in the solution of the problems of a game of 

 chess. 



In short, we see in this joy in conquest a " cor- 

 relative to success in the struggle for existence,^' * 

 whether it concerns rivalry among comrades, victory 

 over an enemy, the proof of one's capabilities, or the 

 subduing of an external object. 



In view of all this, it seems a very mistaken pro- 

 ceeding to characterize play as aimless activity, car- 

 ried on simply for its own sake. Energetic exertion 

 may be provocative of pleasure, as we have seen, but it 

 is by no means the only source of the pleasure pro- 

 duced by play. " Disinterested play ! " exclaims Sou- 

 riau in the passage already cited from — " to talk about 

 such a thing is to expose our ignorance. Players are 

 always interested in the result of their efforts.'' It may 

 be an insignificant aim that inspires us, but there is 

 always some goal that we are striving for, an " end to 

 attain," whose value our imagination usually enhances. 

 " Tell me, if you will, that I am voluntarily deceiving 

 myself ; tell me even that I am making myself the dupe 



* Spencer, Principles of Psychology, vol. i, p. 534. 



