240 HAROLD E. BURTT 



times appeared the opposite tendency, — to go leftward entering 

 alternate or rightward entering consecutive ones. (cf. trial 271). 

 These two tendencies to enter consecutive or alternate doors 

 going in either direction were somewhat manifest throughout. 

 At trial 224 the period of punishment for B was increased to 

 10 seconds and soon after that she learned to stick her nose 

 under the door (which was raised 3-16 inch from the floor to 

 protect the tail), and wiggle out on her side before the 10 seconds 

 were up. The direction in which she then turned appeared to 

 depend much on her orientation as she came out of the compart- 

 ment in this way. On the whole, B showed less systematic 

 attack upon the problem than C, choosing more palpably at ran- 

 dom and getting fewer successes on the second choice. 



SUMMARY 



1 . The first two standard multiple choice problems were pre- 

 sented to white rats. These problems may be defined in terms 

 of the constant relation of the correct mechanism to the varying 

 group of mechanisms as: (1) the first at the right end of the 

 series; (2) the second from the left end of the series. 



2. One inbred and two outbred rats five months old solved 

 the first problem in 200 trials or less. Another inbred indi- 

 vidual two months younger required 350 trials. The indica- 

 tions are that visual tactual and kinaesthetic guidance sufficed 

 for the formation of the habit. 



The second problem proved insoluble for the two rats which 

 attempted it. Both acquired a general tendency to turn toward 

 the left, thus more frequently making a correct random choice, 

 but the relation of secondness from the left was evidently beyond 

 them. 



3. There were two noticeable reactive tendencies manifested 

 by one rat. In problem 1 she would at times become oriented 

 very suddenly, dash to the right end and then across to the 

 correct door. In problem 2 she repeatedly entered the left 

 door and then the second from the left. Although it is tempting 

 to ascribe these tendencies to a higher level of behavior, it 

 would seem better to explain the first in terms of kinaesthetic 

 units and the second by the acquisition of the habit of choosing 

 the left door, — the following choice most naturally involving the 

 adjacent correct door. 



