THE WAYS OF LIFE 241 



are three main views : (a) Instinctive actions are re- 

 garded by some as concatenated reflexes, as non- cognitive 

 hereditary dispositions to follow a certain routine when the 

 trigger is pulled, (b) Instinctive actions are regarded by 

 some as quite inseparable from intelligence, (c) Instinct and 

 intelligence are regarded by Bergson and others as two 

 radically different, though complementary, kinds of 

 knowing, which have evolved along divergent lines. It is 

 too soon to come to a decision in regard to these rival 

 theories. The fact remains that there is a big area of 

 animal behaviour of a peculiarly fascinating type which is 

 conveniently called instinctive. 



INTELLIGENT BEHAVIOUR 



When we pass from the Invertebrates to the Vertebrates, 

 we find ourselves in a new atmosphere. Instinct begins 

 to count for less and intelligence for more. There are, 

 indeed, many illustrations of intelligence among Inverte- 

 brates and of instinct among Vertebrates, but on the whole 

 the big-brained type, which reaches its climax in Birds 

 and Mammals, is one which is relatively poor in ready- 

 made predispositions to certain lines of behaviour and 

 relatively rich in its power of learning by experience. As 

 Sir Ray Lankester has said, the big brain type is eminently 

 educable. 



After naturalists condescended to credit animals with 

 intelligence analogous to their own, and ceased to bundle 

 all animal behaviour together and label it ' instinctive ', 

 there was a generous reaction. It was the fashion to sec a 

 Brer Rabbit everywhere, and to read the man into the 

 beast without let or hindrance. All sorts of delightful 



