462 R. T. YOUNG 



perch 0.3 m. from the ground. At the opposite end backgrounds 

 were prepared of sifted flour and coal dust mixed with pieces of 

 anthracite coal. The crickets were arranged in similar positions 

 on each background, the number used being indicated in every 

 experiment. Care was taken in placing the crickets to avoid 

 attracting the crow's attention to any of them, the experimenter 

 placing himself between the perch and the background when 

 arranging the experiments. The harmony between the color 

 of the crickets and the coal background was very close, the dull 

 color of the cricket's back and wings agreeing well with that 

 of the coal dust, and the brilhant black of the legs and head of 

 the cricket simulating closely the bits of coal scattered among the 

 dust. 





Fig. A A and C — flour, B — coal. 



Experiment 1. Four crickets were placed on flour and four on coal. 

 In about one minute the crow dropped to the ground from its perch 

 and went directly to the backgrounds taking a cricket from the flour. 



Experiment 2. In this experiment, three crickets were placed on 

 flour and three on coal. The results were similar to those of Experi- 

 ment 1, except that two crickets were taken from the flour. 



Experiment 3. Two crickets were placed on each background. 

 The crow went immediately to the backgrounds, approached a little 

 nearer to the coal than the flour, but took a cricket from the flour. 



Experi7nent 4- In this and the following experiments, three back- 

 grounds were prepared as shown in figure A; A and B being the same 

 as those employed in the previous experiments, and C a new one. 

 Two crickets each were placed on B and C. A minute later the 

 crow dropped to the ground and passed directly to the backgrounds. 

 After hesitating a moment, it took one cricket from C. 



Experiment 5. Three crickets were placed on both A and C and 

 six on B. The crow dropped from its perch to the floor on the side of 

 the cage nearest A. It several times ran past all three backgrounds, 

 and finally went to B taking three crickets therefrom. The experiment 

 lasted about nine minutes. 



