298 BIOLOGICAL LECTURES. 



me when I approached the dish, looking up at me wistfully, 

 as if knowing well the meaning of my visits. 



c. Influence of Innate Timidity. 



In the behavior above described, we see an instinctive mode 

 of capturing prey held in check, and probably directed to some 

 extent, by innate timidity. Fear seems to be the main factor 

 in control at the start, holding the animal in a trance-like 

 quiet, undecided as to what to do, waiting for confidence to 

 attack, or for a stronger motive to flee. As fear subsides a 

 little, the preparatory movement of attack begins, but the sly 

 behavior is due to fear rather than the slyness of stratagem. 

 The slow and cautious method of approach is certainly not all 

 finesse, for the deportment bears still the stamp of hesitating 

 timidity, and this part of the act may become much freer as 

 the animals become tamer and more fearless. The final part 

 of the act, that of snapping the bait, was always performed 

 in the same characteristic way. The piece of meat seemed 

 always to be regarded as a living prey, which was to be seized 

 quickly, held firmly for a moment or two, and then swallowed. 

 Unfortunately I did not experiment to see what could be done 

 in modifying this part of the act. 



Instinctive fear is evidently a very important element in the 

 conduct of the lower as well as the higher animals. In Nec- 

 turus we see how it may be just as effective as intelligence 

 in securing a sly mode of attack. So strong is its influence 

 that I doubt whether there is any finesse in the movement. 

 The adaptation of acts to purposeful ends must not be accepted 

 too quickly as proof of intelligence in the doer. Such acts are 

 common enough in plants, and there we are under the neces- 

 sity of finding some other explanation. 



d. Organization Shapes Behavior. 



Necturus appears to understand well the act of capturing its 

 prey, and the nice adaptation of each act to the end in view 

 naturally enough suggests forethought and refined experience. 



