Such is some of the observational evidence on which is based the provisional hypothesis that experience, as such, is not inherited. What, then, is inherited? Clearly the organic conditions under which experience can be acquired. Since a young bird inherits a tendency to peck at small objects, especially, in the case of some birds such as plovers or partridges, at small moving objects, opportunities are afforded for discrimination in accordance with the results of experience. Since its inherited timidity leads the chick to shrink from many things seen or heard, a wide range of conscious data is supplied. Inheritance provides the raw material of organic behaviour for effective consciousness to deal with in accordance with the results which are its data. Having thus cleared the ground and laid bare some at least of the assumptions which we accept as foundations on which to build, we may now follow up the line of treatment which was suggested in the first section of this chapter. Remembering that our aim is to understand the influence of consciousness on behaviour--or, in more accurate, if more cumbrous phraseology, the influence of certain nerve-centres which have for their concomitant what we have termed effective consciousness--the questions which present themselves in any given case are: What is the conscious situation which is effective in guidance? what elements enter into the situation, whence are they derived, and how were they introduced? how do they take effect in behaviour? If it be true that, in many of the lower forms of life, consciousness or sentience, though presumably present in some dim form, is merely an accompaniment of organic behaviour without reaching the level of recognizable effectiveness; and if, during the development of one of the higher animals from the fertilized ovum, the early stages of organic behaviour are in like manner merely sentient; it follows that, when effective consciousness enters upon the scene (who can say at what exact stage of evolution?), it finds itself a partner in a going concern. Much organic business is being transacted with orderly regularity; preparations have been made for more extensive operations; and energies lying dormant, or expending themselves aimlessly in starts and twitches, await the guidance which shall direct them to higher and wider biological ends. Or, to vary the analogy, consciousness is the heir to a wide estate, over which he has no control until he comes of age. Up to that time the estate is managed in strict accordance with the dictates of the hereditary bequest. He may be aware of what is going on, but merely as a spectator without power of interference. And when he comes into possession his first business is to gather up the threads. He must learn bit by bit how the estate is being managed, that he may have data for the guidance of his own management within the wise limits of the hereditary entail.