be expected in the absence of the series of experiences by which that definition had been reached, unless the cat were capable of what has been above spoken of as reflective imitation. If, then, we agree to exclude from the category of imitative behaviour in animals, on the one hand, any “circular process” which may occur in the same individual, and on the other hand any reflective imitation, such as is so important a factor in human education, it remains to be seen what may be fairly included in this category. It is probable that in animals imitation has its foundations in instinctive behaviour, of which it may be regarded as the characteristically social type. If one of a group of chicks learn by casual experience to drink from a tin of water, others will run up and peck at the water, and thus learn to drink. A hen teaches her little ones to pick up grain or other food by pecking on the ground and dropping suitable materials before them, while they seemingly imitate her action in seizing the grain. One may make chicks and pheasants peck by simulating the action of a hen with a pencil point or pair of fine forceps. According to Mr. Peal, the Assamese find that young jungle pheasants will perish if their pecking responses are not thus stimulated; and Professor Claypole tells me that this is also the case with young ostriches hatched in an incubator. A little pheasant and guinea-fowl followed two older ducklings, one wild, the other tame, and seemed to wait upon their bills, to peck when they pecked, and to be guided by their actions. It is certainly much easier to bring up young birds if older birds are setting an example of eating and drinking; and instinctive acts, such as scratching the ground, are performed earlier if imitation be not excluded. If a group of chicks have learnt to avoid cinnabar caterpillars, and if then two or three from another group are introduced and begin to pick up the caterpillars, the others will sometimes again seize them, though they would otherwise have left them untouched. One of my chicks, coming upon a dead bee, gave the danger or alarm note; another at some little distance at once made the same sound. A number of similar cases might be given; but what impresses the observer as he watches the early development of a brood of young birds, is the presence of an imitative tendency which is exemplified in many little ways not easy to describe in detail. It is probable, however, that these imitative tendencies or propensities are not wholly indefinite. The young birds do not imitate any actions, but behaviour of certain specific types, the imitation of which has been engrained through the action of natural selection.