ANIMAL BEHAVIOR — WALKER 309 



possible to calculate the average efficiency of any given species we 

 might see that any one of the lower animals is as efficient as man in 

 fulfilling its particular functions in this world. Close study of ani- 

 mals will often disclose that movements which at first glance we 

 might consider aimless, are, in reality, following a very definite pat- 

 tern, evidently with a definite purpose. For example, if a plot of 

 land be dug up or otherwise disturbed, squirrels will go over it pains- 

 takingly, investigating almost every square inch. I believe that the 

 animals are familiarizing themselves with the area in its changed 

 condition so that they may intimately know all of the ground that 

 constitutes their range. Obviously, when it becomes necessary for 

 one of them to flee to save his life he must know exactly where 

 safety can be found. A little study along these lines will indicate 

 that every animal knows its territory intimately. The liberation of 

 an animal in new surroundings invariably leads to a most painstak- 

 ing examination of those surroundings. Usually the animal will at 

 first stand perfectly still and look about, sniffing and frequently 

 testing the objects near it with its nose, teeth, and paws. It will 

 then gradually explore farther and farther. If it is forced to attempt 

 to make a sudden escape before it has become thoroughly familiar 

 with new surroundings, it will often make bad mistakes. For ex- 

 ample, if it is liberated in a fenced enclosure, it will sometimes run 

 headlong into the fence so hard as to kill or cripple itself or it will 

 dash into water and make other like blunders. 



A British Army officer who had a pet mongoose that traveled with 

 him in India observed that every evening when camp was made and 

 the mongoose was liberated, it made a painstaking examination of the 

 tent and all objects in the tent and its surroundings. He reached the 

 conclusion that such an examination was necessary to enable the ani- 

 mal to know exactly where to go in the event of an emergency. 



We often marvel at the way animals appear to travel with such 

 certainty in the dark. Our first thought on observing this phenom- 

 enon is that the creatures can see. However, we know that, guided by 

 the sense of touch, they get about readily in absolute darkness where 

 sight is impossible. Usually they are traversing ground on which 

 they grew up and with every portion of which they are thoroughly 

 familiar. Furthermore, I have observed that the small creatures 

 extend their very long whiskers forward and to each side to the ut- 

 most that they can be extended, just as a person in a dark room keeps 

 one hand out at the side to maintain contact with the wall and keeps 

 the other hand directly in front in order to be given warning by 

 touching objects with his finger tips. This is exactly the procedure 

 that is followed by many little nocturnal creatures. While they can 

 undoubtedly see far better in subdued light than we can, there is no 



