INBOKN AND ACQUIRED MOVEMENTS. 61 



acquired and voluntary movements of adult age. 

 The great distinction between the inborn and 

 acquired movements in kind, is that the acquired 

 movements are found in each successive year of the 

 child's life to be more and more co-ordinated ; they 

 become more easily co-ordinated into complex 

 arrangements by the temporary action of some 

 external force. 



I have, at present, but little exact and scientific 

 knowledge as to the differences in kind between the 

 inborn and the acquired movements, but this does 

 not prevent us from considering the question ; and 

 the consideration and discussion maybe an encourage- 

 ment to the investigation of the problem by scientific 

 methods. The expression of inborn properties, as 

 distinguished from acquired properties, is a very 

 important and interesting subject. In an investiga- 

 tion for the purpose of determining what movements 

 are inborn and what acquired, it would be necessary 

 to observe the spontaneous movements of young 

 children,* also to observe what reflex actions can be 

 excited in them, and compare these movements with 

 analogous conditions in later life. These questions, 

 were we conversant with them, would supply some 

 information as to the modes and processes of evolu- 

 tion in the individual and in a species ; we should 

 also gain further knowledge as to expression by 

 co-ordinated movements, a kind so very cha- 

 racteristic of mind. This subject will be further 

 developed and defined 'in chap. v. and further 

 explained and illustrated in chap. vi. 

 * See chap, xiv. 



