Intelligence and the Acquisition of Habits. 165 



blackbird of Florida {Quiscalus purpureus). Standing 

 on the brink of a river, he "noticed a commotion among 

 a congregation of these birds, which were anxiously 

 looking into the water. A large bass was pursuing its 

 favourite food, the small fry, and the latter, in their 

 frantic efforts to escape, jumped out of the water, and 

 many of them fell on the land. The blackbirds, evidently 

 experts at the game, immediately pounced upon the small 

 fish and swallowed them before they could get back into 

 the water." 



Intelligence, like Mr. Micawber, is always keenly on 

 the look-out for something to turn up, and, when it does 

 turn up, profits by the experience thus gained. If a crow- 

 blackbird, for example, standing by the water-side, saw 

 first a commotion in the water, and then young fry leaping 

 out on the sand, and found the latter pleasant to the taste, 

 he would probably haunt the water's edge next day, and, 

 should he see a commotion in the stream near the bank at 

 some distance off, would hurry thither in the expectation 

 of finding a dish of whitebait. All of this is rendered 

 possible by that association of impressions and ideas with- 

 out which intelligence would not exist. And then his 

 neighbours and friends, seeing him enjoying a good meal, 

 will soon be self-invited guests at the repast. 



That the imitation implied in the last sentence is an 

 important factor in the development of habits, there can 

 be no question. Although the psychological and physio- 

 logical conditions of imitation are by no means thoroughly 

 understood, it will be well to devote the next chapter to 

 the consideration of this factor. 



