Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17
BY Leonard keene Hirschbere
a. NJ ND. {Johns Hopkins)

rANY earnest scientists studying the behavior
mi OF animals chiefly by the methods OF compare
49, tive psychology They endcavorng to
build up true science OF animal behavior in place
OF the vast body Of transformation which has been
piled up by naturalsts, nature takers" and various
amateur observers.
The interesting results OF their .abors appear oi
monthly in THE Journal OF Animal Behavior" pub
lished at Boston. Mass, and text book BE
havior; an Introduction to Comparative Psychology,
by Prof John B. Watson. Of Johns Hopkins University
has just been published by Henry Holt & Co
The uptodate scientists record Il great many
curious facts about animal behavior without attempt
ing to explain their meaning this they differ from
old-fashioned nauralists. who often undertake to
explain everything with the help of little imagina
ton or their knowledge OF human behavior The
scientists satisfied accurately observed
facts which may form basis for reliable
science In the future.
The animal behaviorists. for instance object par
ticularly to such statement this from recent
work on natural history: Cats certainly train their
young In the art Of mouse killing" This 1t appears
is NOT borne out by the careful observations of the
most distinguished American animal behaTiorists.'
great variety OF experiments animals have
been performed by means Of mases which
structed, with more or less notifications. upon the
plan OF the historic maze at Hampton Court Palace
in England. The animals dropped in the place
corresponding TO the spot where human being starts
in the large and then expected to thread
their way through the maze to the central space
The length OF time they take the rate OF Improvement
after repeated trials and other Interesting facts are
noted.
Food is the usual attraction used TO induce them
to thread the complicated path of the maze. Many
variations of the experiment introduced The
maze Is changed, for instance, and 1t is noted how
the animal behaves when he reaches closed spot
where there was formerly opening
In this way 1t may be ascertaned on what senses
the animal depends in finding his way about the
world, for 1t seems that the have very
different order OF Importance in the animal than In the
human being. Practically everything we do is at.
fected by the language habit and the process OF
reasoning that has been based upon it. The language
habit is at least largely missing among animals
although there is evidence that they attach consider
able significance to the various sounds they make
typical animal maze is illustrated IN 4 diagram
on this page, together with picture showing how
IT Is used when rat is the subject of experiment
Complicated blind alleys shown at the spots
marked A. B, D, E and F. 1t Is important to
notice that Is not blind alley but an alternate
and longer way to reach the food This IL an i'm.
portant means OF showing how quick the rat is to
learn the quickest way to his food The animal is
admitted at o, food is placed at H.
AS constructed for the the alleys are of wood
SIX inches In width and six inches in height Tho
maze was constructed that It could be sawed
across and section inserted SO as 10 change
the problem presented to the rut