45 

 but one trial a day or at greater Intervals will always 



prove to be the most economical in the total time required 

 for learning a problem. 



THE ORGANIZATION OP MOVEMENTS. 

 The rats are endowed with a physiological disposition 

 to repeat movements, both native and acquired. Many of 

 these which the rats make when confronted with a new 

 situation or problem are more-or-less impulsive and primal 

 in nature. In a solution of a problem these primal move- 

 ments are organized. The problem is then learned. It 

 has been said that the learning process consists of the 

 "mechanical stamping out" of the useless movements and 

 the "mechanical stamping in" of the useful ones. There 

 have been some objections to this supposition as to the 

 method of learning among animals. The general objection, 

 as raised by Hobhouse (4), is that it precludes intelli- 

 gence. Since this paper will not touch upon the question 

 of the presence or absence of intelligent activities, 



