Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-13
an ARrTHMsrIoAL ARR.


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IN ARITHarETIoAL are.
MIR. HOnnine Raports on the Edu-
cation of Ais Chimpanxee.
London Times.
About year ago began, with the as.
sistanee Of the keeper, to instruct the
chimpauzee at the Geological Gardens In
the art of computation. Tho method
adopted was TO ask her for one, two
three, four OF Ave strawB, which she VIC
to pick up and hand out from among tn
litter In her cage. or course no conatan
order was observed in making these 70
quests, but whenever she handed mum.
Der not asked for her offer was refused,
In this way the animal learned to asso.
oiate the numbers with their names,
Lastly, IL more than one straw were asked
for, she was taught to hold the others In
her mouth until the required number was
complete, and then to deliver the whole
at once. This method prevented any
possible error arising from her interpre-
tation or vocal tones--an error which
might we'll have arisen II each straw had
been asked for separately.
After few weeks continuous instruc-
ton the ape perfectly well understood
what was required of her, and up 10 thu
time when l left town, several MONTH
I ago, she rarely made a mistake In hand,
ing ms the exact number of straws that
named. Doubtless she still oontinued to
do SO for her keeper. For instance, IL she
is esksd for four atrawB she succesBiyely
pinks, up three and puts them in her
mouth then she piokg up fourth and
hands oyer nll the four together. Thus
there can BIO no doubt that tho animal ii
clearly able to distinguish between the
numbsis !, 2, 8, 4 and 8, and that she
understands the name for each. But as
this chimpanzee ia somewhat capricious
In her moods, even private visitors must
not be disappointed IL they fail 70 be en-
tertalned by an exhibition OF her learning
"A caution which 1t seems desirable to
add, as this is the first time that the at
tainments OF my pupil have been made
known 60 the public, although they have
been Witnessed by officers of the society
ora o'he- biological friends -
hsts beat these hnts to you, SIR, lie.
cause l THINK that they bear out the
Psychological distinction between sem
suous estimation and intellectual nofa-
ton. Amy child, year after emerging
from infancy, and not yet knowing ne
numerals, could Immediately sos the diff
ference between five pigs and ak pigs,
and, therefore, as your writer indicates.
1t would be an extraordinary fsct II a
savage were unable to do so. But il the
savage had to deB, with larger number
OF pigs, the nsuffisieucy of his sensuoua
estimation would increase with tho in.
crease OF numbers until point would be
reached at which, il he were TO keep
count ut all, he would be Obliged to re-
sort to some system OF notation.-thnt il,
to mark of each separate unit with sep
arate nota, whether by fingers, notches or
words.
Thus there is counting and counting
distinguishing between low numbers By
directly appreciating the difference be-
tween two quantities of sensuous percep-
tions, and distinguishing between mum.
bers OF any amount by marking each seu-
suous perception with separate sign.
OF course, in the above instances OF ami
mails counting, it must DO the former
method alone that is employed, aud,
therefore, | have not sought to carry the
ape bsyond the number five, lest l should
spoil the results already gained. But
careful Research has been made to fiud
how far this method can be carried In the
case of man. The experiments conssted
IN ascertaining the numoer OF objects
(auch as dots on piece Of paper which
admit of being simultaneously estimated
with accuracy. II was found chat tho
number admits of being largely increased
by practice, until, with an exposure to
view or one seconds duration, the esd.
mate admits of being correctly made up
between 20 and 80 objects.
In the oase of the ape il Is astonishing
over how long time the estimate en-.
aures. Supposing, for instance that ahe
y requested to find five oolored straws,
She perfectly we'll understands what ID
wanted, but, as colored straws ore rare in
the litter, she has to seek about for
them, and thus II takes her long time to
complete the number yet she remem-
DORIS how many she has successfully
FOUND and put into her mouth, so that
wnen the number is completed she de-
llvers 1t at once. After having consigned
Them to her mouth she never looks az the
straWs, and, therefore, her estimate Of
their number must be formed either by
me feelings OF her mouth or by retaining
2 mental impression of the successive
movements of her arm in picking up the
straws and placing them in her mouth.
without being able to decide positively
IN which OF these ways she estimates the
humber, am inclined to think It Is In
we latter. But, il so, it Ia surprising, as
s'ieady remarked, over how long time
'nis estimate by muscular sense endures.
y a.