In order to discover the aptitudes of the mentally defective, we have three means of interrogating our questionnaires. In the first place these contain the following question: _Does the child show any particular aptitude either at school or outside?_ This question has evoked replies which vary very little, for amongst the aptitudes of the children scarcely anything is mentioned but bodily occupations--errands, domestic duties, gymnastics, sewing, and drawing. In the same questionnaire another question, placed on the following page, is almost identical in form with the first: _Is there anything in which the child is particularly interested?_ The replies to this second question have been a little more numerous than to the previous one. It is true that the two differ by a shade--the distinction between interest and aptitude. One may interest oneself in something for which one has no aptitude. The following table shows the distribution of the replies to the two preceding questions: THE MENTALLY DEFECTIVE. _Aptitudes._ | _Interests._ Pupils. | Pupils. None 19 | None 11 Practical life 7 | Writing 8 Sewing 7 | Drawing 7 Gymnastics 1 | Sewing 6 Drawing 1 | Gymnastics 5 | Arithmetic 3 | Recitation 3 | History 2 | French 1 | Music 1 | Singing 1 | Reading 1 | Object lessons 1 These two lists are not superposable, but if we take them together we shall notice that sensori-motor occupations, such as gymnastics, "practical life," sewing, writing, and drawing, are those which are most interesting to these pupils. Sewing, writing, and drawing are, indeed, their favourite lessons. We should have expected that singing would not have left them indifferent, for other investigations have shown us that the majority have a good voice; but it is quite apparent that singing is less attractive to them than drawing. A very characteristic feature is the absence of any mention of composition. Some of the abnormal are fond of arithmetic; none shine in composition. This fact, though negative, seems worth consideration. Speaking generally, we never find that a child who is good at composition is mentally defective.