THE WHITE RAT AND THE MAZE PROBLEM 179 



of 30 feet in the one and 9 feet in the other. The paths, both 

 true and false, of the H.C. maze are more complex in nature. 

 The results obtained from the H.C. maze and those given by 

 the smaller maze, which we will call the X maze, when the sides 

 are on are very similar. In table 1 they are given in tabular 

 form together with the dimensions of each maze. 



To make these results comparable it is necessary to multiply 

 the errors of the X maze by 7/6, since the H.C. maze has 7 errors 

 while the X maze has only 6. The time taken to run the maze 

 should be directly proportional to the length of the path. In 

 the first trial in any maze the cul de sacs are explored rather 

 thoroughly; therefore the time of the first trial in the X maze 

 should be multiplied by 40/17 x 30/9, the ratios between the 

 lengths of the true paths and the cul de sacs in the two mazes. 

 In the final trials, however, the errors are cut out and to get 

 the comparative speed we multiply the figures for the X maze 

 by 40/17 to correct the speed for the true path. By comparing 

 the corrected results of the X maze with those of the H.C. maze 

 we can see that the statement of similarity is substantiated. 



The X maze took an average of four more trials to learn than 

 the H.C. maze. The slower learning time for the X maze is 

 doubtless a result of the character of the cul de sacs. There are 

 three pairs of blind alleys in this maze. One and three are exactly 

 of the same length and character and so are two and six and 

 likewise four and five. The two latter pairs differ only four 

 inches in length while after the turns the distances in 1, 2, 3 

 and 5 are identical. (See figure 1.) The distances on the true 

 path between the turns are also comparable. If, after the habit 

 is formed, the running under these conditions is . carried on 

 largely in kinaesthetic terms, as we believe, then differences 

 between the kinaesthetic elements in the series should favor 

 such an accomplishment. Such differences in kinaesthetic 

 elements are differences in complexity, differences in the dis- 

 tances between the turns as well as in the direction of the turns, 

 and differences in the lengths of the cul de sacs, etc. Too great 

 a similarity between such kinaesthetic units would hinder the 

 learning. The plan of the H.C. maze, according to this con- 

 ception, is more favorable for learning and hence the slower 

 learning time of the X maze. The corrected figures for the 

 X maze show a greater average number of errors in the first 



