2O2 The Dancing Mouse 



In the first experiment three dancers, Nos. 1000, 2, and 6, 

 were together placed in the wooden box. At the end of 15 

 minutes not one of them had succeeded in returning to the 

 cage. They were then driven to the bottom of the ladder 

 and started upward by the experimenter; with this assistance 

 all escaped to the nest-box. At the expiration of 5 minutes 

 they were again placed in the wooden box, whence the chilly 

 temperature (about 60 F.) and the lack of food made 

 them eager to return to their cage. No attempt to climb up 

 the ladder was made by any of them within 15 minutes, so 

 the experimenter directed them to the ladder and started 

 them upward as in the first test. This completed the experi- 

 ment for the day. The following day two tests were given 

 in the same way. In the second of these tests, that is, on its 

 fourth trial, No. 1000 climbed over of his own initiative in 

 5 minutes. The others had to be assisted as formerly. On 

 the third day No. 1000 found his way back to the nest-box 

 quickly and fairly directly, but neither No. 2 or No. 6 climbed 

 of its own initiative in the first test. When their movements 

 were restricted to the region of the box about the base of the 

 ladder, both of them returned to the cage quickly. And on 

 the second test of the third day all the mice climbed the 

 ladder directly. 



In Table 35 I have given the time required for escape in 

 the case of 40 tests which were given to these 3 individuals 

 at the rate of 2 tests per day. 



When the time exceeded 15 minutes the mice were helped 

 out by the experimenter; a record of 15 minutes, therefore, 

 indicates failure. Naturally enough the motives for escape 

 were not sufficiently strong or constant to bring about the 

 most rapid learning of which the dancer is capable. 

 Sometimes they would remain in the wooden box washing 

 themselves for several minutes before attempting to find a 



