114 INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOUR 
They are common, no doubt with diversities of detail, to such 
different birds as grouse, pigeons, plovers, rails, avocets, ducks, 
pipits, buntings, and warblers. Granting that the behaviour 
is truly instinctive, it forms a very pretty subject for trans- 
missionists and their critics to quarrel over. “If we seek, as 
an example,” the transmissionist may exclaim, “an instinct 
which bears the marks of its intelligent, and therefore acquired 
origin, this of feigning wounded provides all that we can 
possibly demand.” ‘* What mode of instinctive behaviour,” the 
selectionist may ask, ‘‘can be adduced which is more obviously 
useful to the species? Is not this just the kind of procedure 
which natural selection, if it be a factor at all, must fix upon 
and perpetuate through the elimination of failures? Those 
birds which, through congenital variation of behaviour, acted 
in this way would certainly enable their offspring to escape 
destruction by enemies, and these would survive to perpetuate 
the instinct.” 
Let us expand the transmissionist position a little further. 
An extremist, of the type presented by Eimer, would perhaps 
urge that the lapwing reasons thus: “If I pretend to be 
wounded, trail my wing, and flutter along the ground, instead 
of flying off, I shall draw upon myself the intruder’s attention, 
and lead him to suppose that I shall be easily caught ; and if 
I thus entice him away, my little ones will be saved, and my 
end gained.” Thus, it may be said, might the bird argue, 
and then give practical effect to its reasoning. But are we 
not here attributing to the lapwing powers of ratiocination 
beyond the capacity of the most intelligent of birds? Are 
we not assuming a histrionic power, and a realization of the 
effects on others of its display, which many a human actor 
might well covet ? 
“ But may not the bird,” it may be urged in reply, “ have 
found by experience, without any elaborate process of abstract 
reasoning, that the trick is effectual?” In any case it would 
be experience perilously acquired. Granting that the bird has 
the wit to try the trick, a little over-acting, a little too much 
lameness of wing, and she is herself seized and killed ; a little 
