404 PSYCHOLOGY. 



Of the movements called by him instinctive in the child. 

 Professor Preyer gives a full account. Herr Schneider does 

 the same ; and as their descriptions agree with each other 

 and with what other Avriters about infancy say, I will base 

 my own very brief statement on theirs. 



Slicking : almost perfect at birth ; not coupled with any 

 congenital tendency to seek the breast, this being a later 

 acquisition. As we have seen, sucking is a transitory in- 

 stinct. 



Biting an object placed in the mouth, cheiving and grind- 

 ing the teeth; licking sugar ; making characteristic grimaces 

 over bitter and sweet tastes ; spitting out. 



Clasping an object which touches the fingers or toes. 

 Later, attempts to grasp at an object seen at a distance. 

 Pointing at such objects, and making a peculiar sound ex- 

 pressive of desire, which, in my own three children, was the 

 first manifestation of speech, occurring many weeks before 

 other significant sounds. 



Carrying to the mouth of the object, when grasped. This 

 instinct, guided and inhibited by the sense of taste, and 

 combined with the instincts of biting, chewing, sucking, 

 si3itting-out, etc., and with the reflex act of swallowing, 

 leads in the individual to a set of habits which constitute 

 his function of alimentation, and which may or may not be 

 gradually modified as life goes on. 



Crying at bodily discomfort, hunger, or pain, and at 

 solitude. Smiling at being noticed, fondled, or smiled at 

 by others. It seems very doubtful whether young infants 

 have any instinctive fear of a terrible or scowling face. I 

 have been unable to make my own children, under a year 

 old, change their expression when I changed mine ; at most 

 they manifested attention or curiosity. Preyer instances a 

 protrusion of the lips, which, he says, may be so great as to 

 remind one of that in the chimpanzee, as an instinctive 

 expression of concentrated attention in the human infant. 



Turning the head aside as a gesture of rejection, a gesture 

 usually accompanied with a frown and a bending back oi 

 the body, and with holding the breath. 



Holding head erect. 



Sitting up. 



