SOAIE EXPERIMENTS EPOX THE PEILVVLOK OE 

 SQUIRRELS.^ 



C. S. YOAKUM. 

 From the Psychological Laboratory of the University of Chicago. 



With Five Figures. 



Introduction. 

 This paper presents (1) a short account of previous observations 

 on the habits and life activities of the squirrel; (2) some experi- 

 ments made to compare his simpler learning processes with those 

 of other mammals, and (3) some preliminary tests upon his tem- 

 perature sense. The squirrels under observation were Sciurus 

 niger, or Sciurus carolinensis. Melanism and other variations are 

 so common among squirrels that no attempt was made to determine 

 the exact variety. - 



I. Previous Observations of Squirrel Behavior. 



The few statements made by animal observers on the habits and 

 instincts of squirrels are by no means in proportion to the animal's 

 attractiveness, nor to its social nature. 



The numerous varieties are found throughout a widely distributed 

 area.'^ The habitat of the squirrel in his American homo extends 

 over practically the entire continents of ISTorth and South America. 



^The writer wishes to aclvuowledge liis iiulebtedness to Professor J. B. 

 Watson for bis close supervision of the experiments and invaluable criticism 

 during the preparation of this paper. 



^Ingersoll, Ernest, Wild Neighbors, Ch. 1. See also Baird, S. F., in U. S. 

 Gov. Reports of Explorations and Surveys, U. S., 1857, page 244. 



^For the description of the North American varieties, see Baird, op. cit., pp. 

 243-348. 



The Journal of Comparative Neueology and Psychology. — Vol. XIX, No. 5. 



