34 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 



Animal Behaviour. B3' C. Lloyd Morgan, F.R.S. 

 Edward Arnold. 



When Prof. Lloyd Morgan publishes a book, we know we 

 shall have a real contribution to the little-known subject of 

 animal psychology. Much, very much, is now published on this 

 phase of evolution, and the study of the habits or behaviour of 

 animals other than man demands two factors — carefully observed 

 facts, and the psychological method. The last is here present 

 in its best form ; the first is probably still insufficient for the 

 purpose. 



The attitude of the writer of this interesting volume to 

 the position of the two dominant schools of thought on the 

 subject, represented by the Neo-Lamarckians and Neo-Dar- 

 winians, is one of caution. To the query, " Are acquired modes 

 of behaviour inherited?" a negative answer "is here pro- 

 visionally accepted." " Granted tliat acquired modifications, as 

 such, are not directly inherited, they may none the less afford 

 the conditions under which coincident variations escape elimina- 

 tion " ; and we read again, " The acceptance of the conclusion 

 that acquired modes of behaviour are not hereditary, nowise 

 commits us to the belief that heredity has nothing whatever to 

 do with them." 



Not only are observational facts required, but the right inter- 

 pretation of those observations is a matter of no little difficulty, 

 requiring a trained mind and a scientific method. A rapid 

 observation too frequently promotes a hasty conclusion. Prof. 

 Lloyd Morgan gives a good instance of the danger of this mental 

 pitfall. He had been experimenting with a dog and a crooked 

 stick. A man who was passing, and who had paused for a couple 

 of minutes to watch the proceedings, said, " Clever dog that, sir; 

 he knows where the hitch do lie." The remark was the charac- 

 teristic outcome of two minutes' chance observation, and was 



