SOME LABYRINTH HABITS OF THE DOMESTIC PIGEON* 



WALTER S HUNTER 

 From the Psychological Laboratory of the University of Texas 



NINE FIGURES 



i INTRODUCTION 



In the experiments presented in the following paper, the 

 writer has made an analysis of the labyrinth habits of the domes- 

 tic pigeon with the purpose of furthering the solution of the 

 following questions: (i) What are the characteristics of the 



Figure 1 — Labyrinth A. E, the entrance box; F, the food box; W, west. 1 and 

 2 indicate blind alleys. 



pigeon's normal learning record? (2) For what length of time 

 do acquired coordinations persist practically unimpaired? (3) Is 

 the pigeon confused by rotating and by shortening the maze? 

 This last question raises the problem of normal sensory control, 

 and its answer serves to emphasize a more or less satisfactory 

 means for the solution of that problem as it presents itself in 

 the behavior of the pigeon. 



' The writer wishes to express his indebtedness to Prof. C. S. Yoakum of the 

 University of Texas for careful supervision of the experiments here presented and 

 to Prof. Harvey Carr of the University of Chicago for kindly suggestions and criti- 

 cisms during the writing of the paper. 



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