The San Francisco call., 1898-07-03

Mark Baldwin says in the illuminating preface which he supplies to his daugn, ters translation it should be a rnatter ol congratulation to all workers III ploloSy and In psychology that the first DOCK OF this subject is at the same time one or such unusual value, both as science ana as theory.
 The term Experimentation Is used to denote such movements of young anl- mals as enable them first to win the mas tery over their own organs and then over external objects It includes stretching and straining the limbs; tasting, seizing and clawing; gnawing and scratching, eX- ercsng the voice and making other sounds; rending, pulling, tearing, tugglng, kicking, lifting and dropping ob1ects, etc: Such experimental movements are or fundamental importance for all the life tasks of animals, for on them depend the proper control of the body, muscular CO., ordination, etc, and. physically, they pro mote the development of the perceptlVe faculties. such as space perception, at tention, will power, memory, etc. They form the common foundation on which the specialized plays are built up,
 with the stretching of his limbs, say the Mullers, 'the young dog begins the first stage of his baby play" Puppies also begin very early to gnaW any wood en object, as well as their own extremi- ties, with their little sharp teeth. Even the play with their tails is largely experl- mental. Afterward the chase instinct comes in, when the end seems to vanish
  ten too, will play with its tail and exer- else the claw armed paws in seizing and holding. Scheitlin observed young pan ther playing with its own tail, and Brehm relates how pumas, at the age or from five to six weeks, play with their moth- CTS tail, as do all the cat tribe. Little nesNings make fiuttering efforts before they can fly, and young sparroWs chlrp so Justify in the nest as to suggest sehu- inc voice practice.
 The case of animals is much like our own The impulse to experiment. con- tinues into advanced age, and constant origin to freer. more individual ac vity so that the fully developed animal prob ably also feels something of the pleasure In exercising power, in being cause.
 By the term movement plays Pro1esSor Groos designates sports that involve change of place for its own sake. Hunt ing and fighting, indeed, also produce change of place to considefabPle bs extent sIn cific aim Here I refer only to such plays as are concerned with practice in locomo- ton as such, where the walking, running leaping, climbing, flying. swimming of the animal finds it's object in itself.
 Birds can no more fly, of themselves than babies can walk. The infants kick ing corresponds to the fluttering of little birds in the nest and his first step to theil first attempt at flight
 The parents of sparrows shy or nlgh' urge them on by holding food before then and flying on With the dalnty morsel ut tering encouraging calls.
 Among aquatic birds, also, the parents assist instinct in teaching the young how to swim, and so hasten their preparation for life's tasks. Old swimming birds take their young on their backs and then slide them off into the water-a very simple method by which many boy has beer taught to swim.
 Such movements can, of course, be con sidered as play only so long as they arr simply exercise. As soon as the bird l. | far enough on to turn his flying or swim ming to account in the search for foot l play changes to serious activity. Th | transition takes place very quickly il | birds, but their short time for practice |
 period of beasts of prey.