CHAPTER V 



THE MENTAL LIFE OF THE MONKEYS; AN EXPERIMENTAL 



STUDY 1 



THE literary form of this monograph is not at all satis- 

 factory to its author. Compelled by practical considera- 

 tions to present the facts in a limited space, he has found it 

 necessary to omit explanation, illustration and many rhetor- 

 ical aids to clearness and emphasis. For the same reason 

 detailed accounts of the administration of the experiments 

 have not always been given. In many places theoretical 

 matters are discussed with a curtness that savors of dog- 

 matism. In general when a theoretical point has appeared 

 justified by the evidence given, I have, to economize space, 

 withheld further evidence. 



There is, however, to some extent a real fitness in the lack 

 of clearness, completeness and finish in the monograph. For 

 the behavior of the monkeys, by virtue of their inconstant 

 attention, decided variability of performance, and generally 

 aimless, unf ore tellable conduct would be falsely represented 

 in any clean-cut, unambiguous, emphatic exposition. The 

 most striking testimony to the mental advance of the mon- 

 keys over the dogs and cats is given by the difficulty of mak- 

 ing clear emphatic statements about them. 



1 This chapter appeared originally as Monograph Supplement No. 15 to 

 the Psychological Review. 



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