2OO The Dancing Mouse 



the fact that discrimination necessarily occurs in connection 

 with each of them. As problem methods we may designate 

 those tests of initiative and modifiability which involve the 

 opening of doors by pushing or pulling them, and the climb- 

 ing of an inclined ladder. An example of the labyrinth 

 method has been presented in Chapter XI. The name dis- 

 crimination method I have applied to those tests which in- 

 volve the choice of one of two visual, tactual, or olfactory 

 conditions. The white-black discrimination tests, for ex- 

 ample, served to reveal the rapidity and permanency of 

 learning as well as the presence of brightness vision. 



In the case of most mammals whose educability has been 

 studied experimentally, problem methods have proved to be 

 excellent tests of docility and initiative. The cat, the rac- 

 coon, the monkey, in their attempts to obtain food, learn to 

 pull strings, turn buttons, press latches, slide bolts, pull 

 plugs, step on levers. The dancer does none of these things 

 readily. Are we therefore to infer that it is less intelligent, 

 that it is less docile, than the cat, the raccoon, or the monkey? 

 Not necessarily, for it is possible that these methods do not 

 suit the capacity of the animal. As a matter of fact, all of 

 the tests which are now to be described in their relation to 

 the educability of the dancer bear witness to the importance 

 of the selection of methods in the light of the motor equip- 

 ment and the habits of the animal which is to be tested. 

 Judged by ordinary standards, on the basis of results which 

 it yields in problem and labyrinth tests, the dancer is ex- 

 tremely stupid. But that this conclusion is not justified is 

 apparent when it is judged in the light of tests which are 

 especially adapted to its peculiarities. 



Problems which are easy for other mammals because of 

 their energetic and persistent efforts to secure food in any 

 way which their motor capacity makes possible are useless 



