490 GERTRUDE MAREAN WHITE 



muscular reactions with special stimuli without apparent con- 

 sciousness of their purpose on the part of the animal, or psy- 

 chological associations of a higher type. 



The formation of associations with color stimuli has already 

 been shown to exist, but under similar conditions associations 

 with patterns were not formed in the tests made. 



Associations with objects were found to occur. A large live 

 dobson-larva was dropped into a tank containing a mudminnow. 

 At first the larva was repeatedly attacked, but when, after a 

 dozen or more trials, the fish was unable to devour it, the larva 

 was completely ignored, although living Crustacea, worms, and 

 other baits were taken. At other times forceps containing no 

 food attracted mudminnows. 



Moving objects and shadows nearly always induced reaction. 

 Sudden movements caused the fishes to swim about rapidly as 

 if frightened and in search of cover. After the fishes had become 

 accustomed to being fed at the top of the water, the approach 

 of anyone caused the fishes to swim to the surface. Short, jerky, 

 wriggling motions as those of a worm attracted and agitated 

 them. 



Jarring the tank produced the same result, probably owing to 

 the fact that it was customary to lift the vessel containing a fish 

 about to be tested and set it on the front of the table. While 

 moving a receptacle, it was necessary to keep it covered because 

 the fishes were likely to leap out of the water, sometimes land- 

 ing outside of the vessel. Fishes freshly brought into the lab- 

 oratory or those which had not been experimented u])on could 

 be carried about in small vessels without showing any inclination 

 to jump out. A very definite moter association seemed to exist 

 in all the fishes with which tests were made, for shadow^s, move- 

 ments of the investigator, jarring the aquaria, all excited the 

 fishes to leap out of water, even when no food was in sight. 



There is some evidence that the fishes associated a certain time 

 of day with their feeding. It was generally the custom to perform 

 the experiments at about the same hour each day; usually in the 

 afternoon. Changing the water in the tanks was found to be a 

 more difficult proceeding if it was done at the usual feeding 



