244 THE INTELLIGENCE OF MAMMALS 
that was formed. Apparently the thought of being in the 
box made the raccoons go in. 
Cole found that the raccoons were aided in learning the 
mechanism of escape from the box if they were put through 
the appropriate movements. Not only was the average 
time required for such animals to escape from the box short- 
ened as compared with the time required by the individuals 
which were unaided, but several animals which failed entirely 
to make their escape succeeded in getting out after having 
been several times put through the act. This result may 
be indicative of the existence of ideas, but not entirely con- 
clusive, as it might be explained possibly as the result of the 
animal’s attention having been limited to a certain part of 
the box. This might direct his efforts toward the spot 
where he would be more likely to hit upon the fortunate 
movement. Raccoons which had come to climb upon a 
box and enter through a hole in the top after having several 
times dropped through the hole would dodge in through the 
door if it were left open after their exit. As in the cases 
where the raccoons learned to escape by themselves, they 
used different paws to undo various fastenings, although 
one fore paw was almost always used when the experimenter 
guided their actions. Whether or not the raccoon re- 
peats the action he is put through depends much upon his 
convenience. If it is the easiest way he will continue as he 
was taught; if not he is apt to substitute some.other method. 
If a raccoon has learned to undo a latch, turn a button, or 
pull a loop, he attacks the same object when it is placed in.a 
different part of the enclosure. Davis, however, attained 
a different result with some of his raccoons, which would 
often spend considerable time in vain clawing about where 
the fastening had been placed. Probably these different 
results depend upon differences in the previous experiences 
