THE WAYS OF LIFE 187 



most of the simpler factors before calling in the aid of the 

 more recondite. The danger Ues in going too far in this 

 direction, trying to force upon facts a simpUcity which 

 does not fit them. 



The older natm:alists were inclined to be too anthropo- 

 morphic in their view of the lower animals, reading the man 

 into the beast without scruple, and accepting anecdotes 

 of animal intelligence on their face value without criticism. 

 It was often very pleasing, this interpretation of animals 

 as homuncuh of the ' Brer Eabbit ' type, with all the 

 human faculties in miniature, except perhaps reason ; but 

 it was not good science. The reaction came inevitably, 

 and about 1900 we find investigators hke Bethe, Beer, and 

 Uexkiill declaring that it was time for biologists to give 

 psychology a rest and to tackle the problems of animal 

 behaviour biologically. And some have been so satisfied 

 with their biological interpretations — in terms of nerve and 

 muscle, protoplasm and its metabolism — that they have 

 put ' the animal mind ' entirely on the shelf, for certain 

 sections of the animal kingdom at least. 



What is Animal Behaviour ? 



Metabolism. — The living creature is always undergoing 

 change, even when it rests ; for life is essentially activity. 

 Only in states of ' latent life ' and the like does the ceaseless 

 combustion and stoking, waste and repair, running-down 

 and winding-up, come to an approximate standstill — 

 from which it is easy to pass into death. But the ceaseless 

 metabolism is not what is meant by behaviour. 



Everyday Functions. — In every animal there are 

 five everyday functions or activities. There are what Sir 

 Michael Foster called the two ' master-activities ' of 



