DELAYED REACTION 49 



change occurred just at the close of the tests with the large 

 release. His usual behavior as well as his new form may be 

 set forth as follows: Before the new release was used, Jack 

 was being tested with boxes a (the right one) and c (the left 

 one) only. When the large release was put on, the tests were 

 still confined to these two boxes. This was necessary in order 

 that the results be strictly comparable. Of the 510 trials given 

 under these conditions, 56 were made: (i) In which no observ- 

 able part of the animal's body remained in a constant position; 

 and (2) in which the animal's position in the box was wrong at 

 the moment of release. In every one of these 56 trials, i.e., the 

 animal was both in front of the wrong box and headed away 

 from the right one when the instant of release arrived. Twenty - 

 six of the 56 were reacted to correctly. Chance will account for 

 this number of reactions as far as the mathematics of the prob- 

 lem are concerned. However, from the point of view of the 

 observer, the majority of the reactions looked like anything 

 but chance behavior. This was especially true when Jack 

 reacted correctly and yet was pointed directly away from the 

 proper box. There was a directness and sureness about his 

 reactions that hardly savors of chance. I do not urge these 

 instances on the reader as evidence of non -accidental reactions. 

 I simply note the fact of their presence and the impression that 

 they made upon me. It is well to remember in addition, though, 

 that since orientation was such a strong factor in determining 

 Jack's reactions (see above, Table XI) that any responses in 

 opposition to this must be given great weight. 



Owing to the fact that only two boxes were used in this series 

 and that they were located far apart, the raccoon had every 

 incentive to rely solely upon his position in the apparatus for 

 the reaction cue. This he soon did to a large extent. In every 

 case where his position was constant (and correct) and his orien- 

 tation changed, he reacted successfully. In other words, posi- 

 tion was the determining factor. When this became evident, 

 the experiment was stopped. The raccoon had shifted the basis 

 of his response so that I could detect its nature by observation. 

 Jack's behavior at this point was thus on a par with the dogs 

 and rats. Had the tests been continued, all that could have 

 been expected was the perfection of a habit of staying near 

 the proper box. This did not appeal to me as a profitable goal 

 of endeavor. 



